2 days Ago
The Houston Dash have hired Fabrice Gautrat as the team’s next head coach, a source has confirmed to The Athletic. Gautrat will be announced on Friday, said the source, who was briefed on the matter but requested anonymity given that the appointment had not yet been officially disclosed by the club. The Dash declined to comment when reached Thursday night.
The Equalizer first reported Gautrat’s hiring, late Thursday. Advertisement The 37-year-old previously served stints as assistant coach for the North Carolina Courage and Chicago Red Stars , though this is first professional head coaching position. He will be tasked with leading a team that had a tumultuous 2024 season and finished bottom of the NWSL standings.
He fills a role left behind by Ricky Clarke, who took over on an interim basis after former head coach Fran Alonso’s months-long absence from the team that began in late June. The club officially parted ways with Alonso by October , which left Clarke in charge of the team for the remainder of the season. GO DEEPER Houston Dash head coach Fran Alonso remains away amid the team's winless streak The Dash ended the year with a 5-5-16 record.
Last month, team announced Clarke’s departure. Gautrat arrives in Houston in the middle of a busy offseason. The club recently hired Angela Hucles Mangano as president of women’s soccer after she left Angel City , and has had some high-profile player signings.
The team recently acquired former Gotham FC teammates Yazmeen Ryan and Delanie Sheehan . Ryan joined the club in a record-breaking move after a breakout season that saw her earn her first cap with the USWNT. Sheehan joined the club immediately after entering free agency.
The two were a vital part of Gotham’s championship winning team in 2023. Before turning to coaching, Gautrat had a brief professional playing career. He is also married to Morgan Gautrat , previously Morgan Brian, a two-time World Cup winner and current NWSL champion with the Orlando Pride .
(Top photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images).
