November 15 – The Houston Dash, a professional women’s soccer team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has been experiencing significant turmoil and changes in recent months, and the hits keep coming.
Pablo Piñones-Arce is out as technical director, after less than a year in the role. His departure follows a three-month absence of ex-head coach Fran Alonso before his official departure in September, along with the firing of General Manager, Alex Singer.
The Dash, not living up to their name, have not filled either vacant position. In late July, president Jess O’Neill said she wanted to have a new general manager in place by “October at the latest”.
A spokesman for the club issued the following statement: “The team is currently meeting with the technical staff as part of the annual end-of-year review. The team will share an update once all meetings have taken place.”
The Dash finished dead last in the NWSL this season and the on-pitch performances reflect the turmoil in the backroom.
Piñones-Arce was hired in March to work with Singer to establish “a robust soccer operation framework for the Dash,” including oversight of roster construction. Piñones-Arce was also considered for the Head Coaching role that eventually went to Alonso but to cloud the situation, Piñones-Arce was given oversight of Alonso.
O’Neill said earlier this year: “I think there were discussions about the openings and the opportunity, but simultaneously, Alex and I had talked about an additional role to support her and, ultimately, the club, and that either we post something specific and have that kind of conversation, or, as happens, sometimes you sort of stumble upon somebody who might make sense in the role that isn’t even posted yet. And that’s my understanding of how things were clarified. But there was an initial conversation about the fact that we had an opening there [for head coach], but not anything that became a finalist of sorts.”
The Dash as a dumpster fire began in early 2024 when they fired their goalkeeper coach, for violation of the NWSL’s anti-fraternization policy, which says coaches “may not engage in, develop, continue, or pursue any romantic and/or sexual relationships or encounters, even when consensual, with any employee (including NWSL players or trialists) over whom they currently have direct or indirect supervisory authority or management influence.”
The club hopes to begin 2025 with a clean slate and new personnel. They can also take heart from rivals, Orlando Pride, who suffered through multiple years of missteps before landing their first trophy by winning the NWSL Shield.
Contact the writer of this story, nick webster, at moc.l1734801514labto1734801514ofdlr1734801514owedi1734801514sni@o1734801514fni1734801514