Houston Dash head coach Randy Waldrum has accepted the head coaching position of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national team on a temporary and volunteer basis, the club announced today. Waldrum will continue in his current role with the Dash, and his new appointment is not expected to interfere with his club duties.
The Soca Princesses arrive in Houston on July 14 for a month-long training camp, during which Waldrum and the staff he assembles will take charge of the team as they prepare for the CFU Championship.
“I’m very honored and excited about coaching the senior women’s national team of Trinidad & Tobago,” Waldrum said. “I coached their U-17 Youth National Team several years ago, and fell in love with the country, the people, and their passion for their football.
“The opportunity to grow the game in a country where the women’s game needs help in terms of development is exciting. Being able to help Trinidad and Tobago grow without conflicting with my job with the Houston Dash is a win-win situation for both the Dash and the TTFA.”
The CFU Championship will be held from August 16-27, hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association. The top two performers from both groups of the tournament qualify for the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in October, which is the final step towards qualification for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Waldrum will remain in Houston until the end of the Dash’s season, at which point he will join Trinidad for any remaining tournament games this year.
Waldrum, 57, was named the first head coach of the Dash in January and has led the team to a 4-9-1 record in its inaugural season. The Irving, Texas, native was previously the head coach at Notre Dame University, leading the school to two national championships during his 14-year tenure. Waldrum has previously coached at the international level as an assistant for the U.S. Women’s U-18 and U-20 national teams in the 1990s and as head coach of the U.S. Women’s U-23 national team from 2012-13. This is his first national team appointment at the senior level.
