The Houston Dynamo have appointed Michael Dellorusso andDavy Arnaud as assistant coaches for head coach Wilmer Cabrera on the first team technical staff, the club announced today. The pair join goalkeeper coach Paul Rogers and sports performance director/fitness coach Paul Caffrey on Cabrera’s staff.
“Michael and Davy are great additions to our team,” Cabrera said. “They join Paul Rogers, who has done a great job with our goalkeepers, and Paul Caffrey, who in my opinion is the best strength and conditioning coach in the United States. I worked with Michael this year and he played at all levels in the U.S. and has experience coaching at all levels in the United States. Davy had a vast professional career as a player. He has natural leadership that will be fresh in the locker room and he can be a bridge between the players and coaching staff. With his attacking mentality, combined with Michael’s defensive acumen, we will have a broad coaching staff.”
“We are very pleased to announce the addition of Michael and Davy to our first team coaching staff,” Dynamo VP/general manager Matt Jordan said. “They are both extremely hard working and committed individuals with extensive experience within the league. They will be welcomed additions to our club and staff as we prepare for 2017.”
Dellorusso, 33, will serve as first assistant under Cabrera after holding the same role in 2015 for the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, the Dynamo’s hybrid USL affiliate. The Toros finished in second place in the Western Conference in their debut season in 2015. Dellorusso was head coach of Arizona United SC (USL) for two seasons, 2014-15. Before the head coach role, he was an assistant coach at the University of Maryland under Sasho Cirovski from 2010-13 as the Terrapins won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season titles and three ACC tournaments. The team also reached the NCAA College Cup in two straight seasons (2012-13), with an appearance in the national title game in 2013.
“I would like to thank Wilmer Cabrera, Matt Jordan, Chris Canetti, Nick Kowba and the rest of the Dynamo organization,” Dellorusso said. “It is a great honor to join Wilmer with the first team. Wilmer, myself and the rest of the coaching staff look forward to putting together an entertaining product on the field in which the people of Houston will be proud of. Wilmer and I, with the support of Matt and Nick, were able to produce a successful inaugural season with the Toros. I would like to thank all the people down in the Valley for their continued support.”
As a player, Dellorusso helped Maryland reach four consecutive NCAA College Cups (2002-05) and was captain as the Terrapins won the 2005 national championship. The Colombia, Maryland native was drafted by FC Dallas in 2006 and spent four seasons with the club and joined the Minnesota Thunder (USL) and Austin Aztex (USL) for loan spells.
Arnaud was one of the most respected players in in Major League Soccer throughout his 14-year career (2002-15) and immediately transitioned from the pitch to the sideline as an assistant with D.C. United, where he finished his playing career. A native of Nederland, Texas, he starred at West Texas A&M before playing his first 10 professional seasons with the Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City, winning the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and reaching the MLS Cup Final the same season. Known for his leadership as a player, the midfielder joined the Montreal Impact in 2012 and was their first captain for their debut MLS season and played two seasons in Quebec. He helped lead United to the 2014 Eastern Conference regular season title in his first season after they won just three games in 2013.
“I’m extremely excited about this new challenge and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work under Wilmer,” Arnaud said. “I have always had a great deal of admiration for the Dynamo organization and I’m looking forward to getting started with the club.”
Arnaud, 36, appeared in 351 career regular-season games, eighth among field players in MLS history, and registered 50 goals and 46 assists. He is tied for ninth in league history with 316 career starts and tenth with 28,462 minutes. Arnaud appeared in 17 playoff games in nine playoff seasons and was the most fouled player in league history, drawing 746 fouls. The Texan also made seven appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
The technical staff will continue preparations for the upcoming MLS offseason, beginning with the opening of the MLS Trade Window on Dec. 9, followed by the Expansion Draft (Dec. 13), Waiver Draft (Dec. 15) and Re-Entry Draft (Dec. 16, 22). The 2017 MLS SuperDraft is set for Jan. 13 in Los Angeles and teams may begin 2017 preseason training as early as Jan. 23.
