Dominic Kinnear and the Houston Dynamo: Forever Orange.
The Houston Dynamo have extended the contract of head coach Dominic Kinnear through the 2010 season. Kinnear had one season remaining on his previous contract, and that agreement was amended after the franchise won a second consecutive MLS Cup Championship.
"I'm happy to know I'll be involved with this organization and players for years to come," said Kinnear. "I am really fortunate to continue this opportunity."
Kinnear will enter his fifth year as head coach of the Dynamo, after being named head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes in 2004. Kinnear was MLS Coach of the Year in 2005 before the Earthquakes moved to Houston, then leading the team to back-to-back league championships in 2006 and 2007. Kinnear has a 53-30-41 record, including a 15-8-7 record this past season. In his four-year tenure as a head coach, Kinnear is already seventh on the all-time MLS list for wins and has the second-highest winning percentage, all time, among MLS coaches at .593.
"We think Dominic is the best coach in the league," said Dynamo President Oliver Luck. "We are delighted to know Dom will continue to lead the Men in Orange, and this gives us a great opportunity to bring home additional championships."
Kinnear also presided over a Dynamo defensive effort that ranks among the best ever in MLS. The Dynamo allowed 23 goals, a league record for fewest in a season. The Dynamo also set a modern professional sports record of 727 minutes without allowing a goal in league play.
The Dynamo repeated as league champion November 18, 2007, in a 2-1 win against the New England Revolution. Kinnear left Houston shortly after the championship to coach the Generation adidas team in Spain.
Kinnear's squad also produced impressive international victories over Pachuca and Club America, with a 4-3-1 international record in 2007. The Dynamo reached the semifinals of CONCACAF Champions Cup and SuperLiga.
Kinnear also engineered three in-season trades that fortified the Dynamo roster and shaped the MLS Cup defense. Dominic acquired Richard Mulrooney, Joseph Ngwenya and Nate Jaqua, all integral components of the 2007 attack.
"To be involved with this group of Dynamo players has been wonderful," said Kinnear. "I have learned so much from them, and they have helped me become a better coach."
The Dynamo will open the 2008 MLS season March 29 at New England, and will face FC Dallas in the 2008 home opener on April 6.
