THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Sigi Schmid won't return for a fourth season as coach of the MLS champion Columbus Crew.

In a statement released late Tuesday, Crew president and general manager Mark McCullers said that Schmid declined the soccer club's last contract offer. McCullers said the team respects Schmid's desire to seek ``the next challenge'' and wishes him the best.

The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday that Schmid met with officials from the expansion Seattle Sounders last week.

The Crew won its first MLS Cup last month with a 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls. It was Schmid's second Cup victory; he'd previously led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the title.

Schmid was hired by Columbus in 2005 after Greg Andrulis was fired.