The Houston Dynamo have announced changes to the club’s technical staff. Sandy Stewart has joined the club as an assistant coach while Paul Caffrey enters as sports performance director/fitness coach. In addition, Nick Kowba has been promoted to assistant general manager/director of soccer operations.
Goalkeeper coach Tim Hanley and assistant coach Steve Ralston have resigned from their positions with the Dynamo.
The Dynamo coaching staff now includes head coach Owen Coyle, sixth-year assistant coach Wade Barrett, Stewart and Caffrey. The club will continue its search for a new goalkeeper coach.
Stewart is a longtime assistant of Coyle, who was appointed Dynamo head coach on Dec. 9. The Scotland native was an assistant for Coyle in each of his last four head coach roles: Wigan Athletic, Bolton, Burnley and St. Johnstone.
“Sandy Stewart will be a quality addition to our technical staff,” said Dynamo vice president/general manager Matt Jordan. “His experience at the highest level, knowledge of the game and track record of success working with Owen will be a big asset for our club.”
As a player, Stewart, made over 500 appearances in Scotland, primarily with Airdrieonians. The defender signed with Hearts of Midlothian in 1987 and moved to Kilmarnock before joining Airdrie in 1989 and spending a total of 17 years in two stints with the club as a player and manager. The 49-year-old managed the club to the 2003-04 Scottish League Second Division title as Coyle led the club with 15 goals.
Caffrey holds experience in MLS and with the United States national team program. Caffrey spent 2014 at Chivas USA as the first assistant coach under Wilmer Cabrera. A native of Dublin, Ireland, he served as an assistant coach and fitness coach with the Colorado Rapids on Oscar Pareja’s staff from 2012-13.
Caffrey also was the first assistant coach under Cabrera with the United States under-17 national team from 2007-11 and oversaw the physical preparation and fitness training of the team.
“We are pleased to add Paul Caffrey to our technical staff,” Jordan said. “He brings a wealth of experience in MLS and with the U.S. national team program. This hire is an important step in the evolution of our club by placing an emphasis on sports science and the physical preparation of our players.”
Caffrey played four seasons with the Long Island Rough Riders after a four-year college career at Adelphi University. Caffrey’s experience also includes roles as the director of coaching with the Rough Riders from 2003-05 and head coach and assistant athletic director with Suffolk County (New York) Community College from 2002-07.
Caffrey holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” License as well as certifications as a strength and conditioning specialist (National Strength & Conditioning Association) and functional movement specialist (Functional Movement Systems). He also carries Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Physical Education.
Kowba enters his tenth season with the Dynamo after following the club from San Jose to Houston in 2005. Kowba will directly assist Jordan in all technical aspects of the club. The Encinitas, California native was voted MLS Team Administrator of the Year by his peers and MLS team staffs three consecutive seasons (2007-09). Kowba’s role with the club has grown from manager of team operations to director of soccer operations to his current post as assistant general manager/director of soccer operations.
Kowba will continue to oversee the day-to-day administrative duties of the Dynamo first team and maintain involvement in domestic and international scouting. Kowba played four seasons at University of California-Santa Cruz before serving as an assistant coach for two seasons.
The Dynamo open the 2015 season on Saturday, March 7 at BBVA Compass Stadium against Columbus Crew SC. Click here or call 713-276-GOAL for tickets for the club’s tenth season, including full-season plans starting at $380 and partial-season plans starting at $99.
