The Houston Dash have fired coach Sam Laity with only four games remaining in the regular season, the team announced Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Houston said an interim coach will be named in the coming days.
- The Dash hired Laity ahead of the 2023 season as the fourth coach in franchise history.
- The team is 4-8-6 and sits 10th in the NWSL standings, with its next game on the road against Racing Louisville FC on Sept. 15.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What to make of the timing of his firing
The timing on the move is a little strange, as if the front office was convinced the head coach was holding back the team’s results. Making a change earlier in the season could have given them more wriggle room to advance up the table.
The Dash aren’t technically out of the playoff hunt yet, with their four games remaining against Racing Louisville, Gotham FC, Angel City and the Orlando Pride. Gotham is the only one of those teams currently in playoff positioning, so if the Dash can win out the rest of the season — and get some help from other teams, it’s not an impossible task.
Houston’s front office is sending a message of “high ambitions,” but they still have to prove they know how to achieve them. — Linehan
What the team said
“We have high ambitions and continuously work to build a competitive team that will represent the city at a high level.” Dash general manager Alex Singer said in a statement. “On behalf of the Club, community, and our team, I want to thank Sam for his dedication and contributions to our organization. We sincerely wish him all the best.”
(Photo: Erik Williams / USA Today)
