HOUSTON (April 18, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC today announced a multi-year contract extension for head coach Ben Olsen, ensuring his continued leadership with the club. The extension runs through the 2026 MLS season.
“When Mr. Segal purchased the club, he had ambition to build a sustainable winner and make the city of Houston proud of our team. As our head coach, Ben has been instrumental in leading our club’s resurgence and building a foundation for continued success,” General Manager Pat Onstad said. “Ben has led the on-field turnaround of the team over the past twelve months, including a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs and international competition, lifting another U.S. Open Cup and knocking out two major Liga MX teams from Leagues Cup. He has also helped rebuild the identity of our club, implementing an attractive style of play, leading a resilient group of players and nurturing young talent from around the world. I am personally excited to continue my collaboration with Ben in our pursuit of continued success at the club.”
Last season, the Dynamo had their best season in over a decade under Olsen’s first year in charge of a team that saw significant roster turnover. The team lifted the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the club’s fourth domestic title, earning Houston a place in this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup for the first time since 2019. The team also made the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017 after finishing fourth in the conference, making a run to the Western Conference Final. Houston also went on a run to the Round of 16 in the inaugural Leagues Cup, defeating Liga MX sides Santos Laguna and Pachuca. In the end, Houston posted an impressive 9-2 record in elimination matches across three competitions in 2023.
"I would like to thank Ted Segal, Pat Onstad and the Houston Dynamo staff and players for their continued support,” Olsen, who joined the club in November 2022, said. “I was attracted to the job because of the enormous potential of both the club and the city. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the past twelve months and am energized to continue raising the standards of our club to ensure the city of Houston is proud of their team.”
The 2024 campaign is also off to a strong start, as Houston’s 4-2-1 (WLD) record is the club’s best start through seven league matches since 2019, with the team currently sitting third in the Western Conference. Olsen was named head coach of the most recent MLSSoocer.com Team of the Matchday after last weekend’s 2-1 road victory at Minnesota.
Additionally, Houston advanced further than any team in the Western Conference in the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year before falling to defending MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew SC in the Round of 16.
The team will launch the defense of its U.S. Open Cup title next month.
Olsen’s Dynamo teams have earned an 18-13-10 (WLD) record in MLS regular season matches since the start of last season.
The veteran head coach has won 131 MLS games, ranking in the top 10 of MLS coaches all-time. Olsen has qualified for the MLS Playoffs in seven of his eleven full seasons as a head coach, and he has won two domestic trophies – 2013 U.S. Open Cup (D.C. United) and 2023 U.S. Open Cup (Houston Dynamo FC)
The Dynamo next host in-state rivals Austin FC at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, April 20, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for that match are available HERE.
