CARY - During his time with the Carolina RailHawks, coach Martin Rennie has fielded offers to coach at other teams but turned them all down - until Monday.

In Cary's Page-Walker Arts & History Center, RailHawks president Curt Johnson announced that Rennie will be coaching a Major League Soccer club next season. At the same time as Johnson's announcement, Rennie was in Canada being introduced by the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Per his request, Rennie will finish the 2011 season with the RailHawks, who are running away with the second-division North American Soccer League with a 14-3-2 record, before taking over Vancouver.

"This is a key part of what makes this agreement and this opportunity for Martin so positive," Johnson said.

Before Saturday's road game against Puerto Rico, Rennie was 52-22-26 in all competition at Carolina. His RailHawks have outscored their opponents 40-16 this season and hold a 12-point lead in the league standings with nine matches remaining.

RailHawks players said they weren't shocked when Rennie informed them of the news Monday. SoccerByIves.net reported last month, that Rennie had interviewing for a MLS job, and that talks broke down when the reported team - the Montreal Impact - wanted the coach to leave Carolina immediately.

The gesture of loyalty during a dominant season has drawn the admiration of his players.

"That's why he's a successful coach. Everything he's done, he's 100 percent committed," Carolina team captain Kupono Low said. "To finish out the season and turn down a job, that says a lot. That's one of the things all of us love about him."

Rennie's contract with the RailHawks will expire after this season, so Carolina will not receive any compensation for his departure to Vancouver. Johnson said Rennie will not split time between the two places while the RailHawks continue to chase the NASL championship.

The Whitecaps, a former league opponent of Carolina, are in their first season of MLS competition and are in last place of the Western Division at 3-11-9 overall.

"When Vancouver showed interest I was really intrigued by them," Rennie said.

"They're one of the top three supported teams in the MLS already in their first year, they're moving into a $60 million stadium downtown - which is incredible. They're already one of the highest in sponsorships in the MLS. They've got some excellent players in that club despite their record. There's so much potential in that club."

Rennie said he will have a say in many of the Whitecaps' roster decisions, just as he has had in Carolina. But the MLS has a salary cap, a transfer window and other restrictions on what players teams can sign at any given time.

He may even have the opportunity to bring some of his current players to Vancouver next year.

"November is the time for me to decide all of that," Rennie said. "There are a number of players on this team who can play in MLS but there are complexities of taking players with you."

Carolina will begin compiling a list of candidates to replace Rennie, with a goal of naming the replacement about the time the Scotland native leaves.

"It took a lot because I really like it here," Rennie said. "Hopefully, in years to come, I can be able to look back and feel like I did a good job here."

Johnson said he hopes for a coach with characteristics similar to those of Rennie: a good communicator who can bring in players through his various connections.

Johnson reflected some on this past year, which included an ominous start as the franchise changed owners and did not know if its league would be sanctioned for 2011. Now, the team's success includes sending a coach to MLS along with four former RailHawks players who have moved on to the top U.S. league and three others now playing internationally.

"It furthers the spotlight on our organization. We had the spotlight in the offseason for some challenging reasons," Johnson said. "Now we have the spotlight on our organization for positive reasons."