Houston Dynamo President and General Manager Oliver Luck has accepted the position of Athletic Director at West Virginia University, it was announced today.
Luck’s resignation from his current position with the Dynamo will become effective on July 1, 2010 with Luck agreeing to remain with the Houston MLS franchise during a transitional period. Chief Operating Officer Chris Canetti will continue to oversee all aspects of the Dynamo business, including sales, marketing, communications, broadcasting, operations, team administration and youth development.
“I would like to thank AEG for giving me the privilege of leading the Dynamo over the last four and a half seasons,” said Luck. “Soccer has a very bright future in Houston, and I wish the organization nothing but the best moving forward. Both the Dynamo and the City of Houston will always occupy a very special place in my heart.”
“We certainly view Oliver’s departure with mixed emotions,” said Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of AEG, owner/operators of the Houston Dynamo along with Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions and businessman Gabriel Brener. “Oliver and the management team he assembled when we moved the franchise to Houston did an exceptional job of establishing the Dynamo as an organization that the entire City and League could be very proud of.”
Luck was named the first president and general manager of the Dynamo on December 15, 2005. Under his tenure, the franchise won consecutive MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007, becoming only the second team in league history to do so. Luck was also pivotal in securing both a soccer-specific stadium and a brand-new practice facility for the club.
