Photo by Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
Dominic Kinnear is officially heading back to coach the San Jose Earthquakes.
The Earthquakes announced Wednesday that the current Houston Dynamo head coach has been hired to the same position in San Jose, where he’ll take over at the conclusion of the 2014 MLS season. The Earthquakes added that they’ve parted ways with head coach Mark Watson and assistant coach Nick Dasovic, effective immediately, and that assistant coach Ian Russell will serve as interim manager for the final two matches of the season.
Kinnear, meanwhile, will remain as coach of the Dynamo until the regular season concludes.
During his nine years with the Dynamo, Kinnear racked up a number of accolades, all while turning his squad into a fierce side known for making strong late-season runs into the playoffs. Kinnear led the Dynamo to back-t0-back MLS Cup championships in 2006 and 2007, and the team lost to the LA Galaxy in the 2011 and 2012 MLS Cup final. In nine years the team made the playoffs seven times.
Kinnear began his coaching career with the Earthquakes in 2001 as an assistant. The Scottish-born, American-raised coach was promoted to head coach in 2004 and led the team to the Supporter’s Shield just one year later.
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