Houston Dash Appoint Fabrice Gautrat as New Head Coach

The former assistant coach of North Carolina Courage takes over after a tumultuous season and aims to rebuild the struggling NWSL team.

Fabrice Gautrat, 37, has been named head coach of the Houston Dash after serving as an assistant coach with North Carolina Courage and Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL.
Gautrat replaces interim coach Ricky Clarke following a challenging 2024 season where the Dash finished last in the 14-team league with a 5-16-5 record.
Team president Angela Hucles Mangano praised Gautrat’s track record of empowering players and achieving success, citing his role in North Carolina’s 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup victory and multiple playoff runs with previous teams.
The coaching change follows a year of instability, including the departure of Fran Alonso after a controversial leave of absence and subsequent move to Spain's Deportivo.
Gautrat expressed enthusiasm for aligning with the club’s vision and aims to establish a strong culture to transform the Dash into consistent contenders in the NWSL.