SB Nation Houston - Steve Ralston Rumored To Be New Dynamo Assistant Coach https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2010-07-21T09:16:01-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13414592010-07-21T09:16:01-05:002010-07-21T09:16:01-05:00Chronicle Confirms Ralston Appointment
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<p>While the Houston Dynamo have not formally made an announcement, Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle seems to think the Ralston deal is complete. Here is what Ortiz wrote today:</p>
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<p>Former U.S. men’s national team member Steve Ralston of the New England Revolution is retiring after his team’s SuperLiga match tonight to join the Dynamo. Ralston will sign a contract Wednesday to become Dominic Kinnear’s assistant coach. He will replace John Spencer, who left for personal reasons and other career opportunities. Portland media last week reported Spencer was expected to become the first coach of the MLS expansion Portland Timbers, who begin play next year.</p>
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<p>So it sounds like the paperwork will be signed today and that an official announcement could be released ahead of tonight's vital SuperLiga clash against Puebla. Ralston is known around the league for his hard working style and class, and he will be a welcomed addition to the Dynamo's coaching staff.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2010/7/21/1580230/chronicle-confirms-ralstonJordan Wise2010-07-20T11:27:39-05:002010-07-20T11:27:39-05:00Steve Ralston Looks Set To Be New Dynamo Assistant Coach
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<p>Reports have surfaced today that Steve Ralston, who announced that he will be retiring from professional play tonight after the New England Revolution's SuperLiga game, will be coming to Houston as a new assistant coach. Ralston would be filling the vacancy left by John Spencer who left last week and is rumored to be in line for the coaching job with the Portland Timbers.</p>
<p>The first report that surfaced comes from Boston.com and says:</p>
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<p>MLS all-time appearance leader Steve Ralston is retiring as a player to accept an assistant coaching position with the Houston Dynamo, according to league sources.</p>
<p>Ralston, 36, will play his final game for the Revolution against Monarcas Morelia tonight in the team's final match of Group B play in the SuperLiga.</p>
<p>John Spencer recently resigned as a Houston assistant and is expected to be announced as head coach of the Portland Timbers, who will begin MLS play next season.</p>
<p>Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear and Ralston have been close since they were teammates with the Tampa Bay Mutiny.</p>
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<p><br>St. Louis Today is also reporting and similar story. Their report says:</p>
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<p>St. Louisan Steve Ralston will retire for good after tonight's New England Revolution MLS match and will, according to the Boston Globe, take a job as an assistant with the Houston Dynamo. Ralston will make the announcement after tonight's Superliga match against Monarcos Morelia at Gilette Stadium.</p>
<p>Ralston didn't re-sign with New England after last season, instead signing with new Division II team AC St. Louis, where he also served as assistant coach, while recovering from knee surgery. When the team ran into financial trouble, Ralston, his knee better, jumped back to MLS, but again ran into injury trouble.</p>
<p>At 36, he's now retiring for good and will be joining former Tampa Bay Mutiny teammate Dominic Kinnear, who's the head coach in Houston. The Houston assistant's position became open when John Spencer quit last week, apparently to become coach of the Portland Timbers of the NASL.</p>
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<p><br>Both reports indicate that a deal has already been made and, unlike we previously thought, the position will be filled with someone from outside of the organization and not a former or current member of the coaching staff.</p>
<p>If these reports are true, Ralston will be a welcomed addition to the Dynamo's staff and will be put to work immediately as the team tries to return to the form of seasons past and make a push for the playoffs.</p>
<p>Updates will be available as soon as a formal announcement of any kind is made.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2010/7/20/1578575/steve-ralston-looks-to-be-new-dynamo-assistant-coachJordan Wise2010-07-19T18:24:09-05:002010-07-19T18:24:09-05:00Spencer Headed To The Pacific Northwest?
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<p>Former Houston Dynamo assistant coach John Spencer surprised many in the soccer community when he abruptly resigned last week from his spot as a top assistant on the club. As has been speculated, there’s more evidence that suggests Spencer could end up as the new head coach of the Portland Timbers, who will join Major League Soccer next year.</p>
<p>Current Timbers head coach Gavin Wilkinson said this weekend that the team still has a <a href="http://www.tribalfootball.com/portland-timbers-coach-wilkinson-keeps-door-ajar-spencer-982241" target="new">strong interest in Spencer</a>:</p>
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<p>“He is still a person of interest for us. We’ll continue talking and see where it takes us,” said Wilkinson. “But John has got a lot of options.”</p>
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<p>Stay tuned for more developments sure to come in the upcoming days and weeks.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2010/7/19/1577531/former-dynamoo-coach-john-spencher-headed-to-the-pacificMichael Bean2010-07-19T17:19:32-05:002010-07-19T17:19:32-05:00New Assistant Coach Found For Dynamo?
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">In <i>Canetti's Corner</i>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/HOU">Houston Dynamo</a> COO Chris Canetti's weekly updated to fans, some more information was divulged about the departure of Assistant Coach John Spencer. If you remember, last week the club announced that John Spencer would be leaving the club in the midst of a fury of activity that included the release of <span>Luis Angel Landin</span> and the signing of Anthony Obodai.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Here is what Canetti had to say:</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px;">John is moving on to pursue other career interests. An announcement regarding John's future will be made soon by the appropriate party. I'd like to thank John for his contributions to the Dynamo and wish him well. He has been a valuable asset to the organization.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">While not saying where Coach Spencer will end up, Canetti seems to confirm our suspicion that John Spencer will shorty be announced as the head coach of a domestic soccer team. It has wildly been rumored that Spencer will be named the head coach of the Portland Timbers, who will join Major League Soccer next year.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Canetti also announced that the Dynamo are looking for a replacement for Spencer and could have already found the right person for the job.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px;">In the meantime, we are actively seeking John's replacement and have some leading candidates in line. It is possible that we could announce a replacement this week.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">It is unclear who will (or even could) fill Spencer's role, but a small group of people feel that former player and current member of the coaching staff, Wade Barrett, could be promoted to the open position.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Another interesting twist to this vacancy is that rumours that fan-favorite defender <span>Craig Waibel</span> could be released or will leave the team. If Waibel leaves, many feel that he would be a valuable addition to the coaching staff and still be able to contribute with his veteran leadership.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Updates will be posted as more information becomes available.</p>
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https://houston.sbnation.com/2010/7/19/2318086/new-assistant-coach-found-for-dynamoJordan Wise