msilverstein47 Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 CHICAGO (Dec. 12, 2013) - The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced today the founding of its ninth club and first expansion team, the Houston Dash. The Dash is owned and operated by the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer (MLS) and will begin play with the start of the 2014 NWSL season. "We're proud and excited to welcome the Houston Dash to the NWSL as the first expansion team in league history," NWSL Executive Director Cheryl Bailey said. "The creation of the Dash will mean enhanced opportunities for female soccer players at the professional level as well as the chance for fans from another part of the country to watch and interact with some of the world's most talented players. We are thrilled at being able to add an organization as strong as the Houston Dynamo as we work towards continuing to build a sustainable league." The Dash will play its home games at BBVA Compass Stadium, the downtown home of the Houston Dynamo. With the expansion, the league will now move to a 24 game regular season schedule. The four teams with the most points at the conclusion of the 2014 regular season will earn a berth in the NWSL Playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrandOne Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Former Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching has been named managing director of the Houston Dash, the club announced today. In the new role, Ching, 35, will manage day-to-day duties on both the business and technical sides of the newest National Women’s Soccer League franchise under the supervision of Dash and Dynamo team president Chris Canetti. While his focus will be primarily with the Dash, Ching will also advise Canetti and head coach Dominic Kinnear as needed on the technical side with the Dynamo. “I am really looking forward to this new role with the club,” said Ching. “It is an exciting time for me and the club and a huge opportunity to help the Dynamo organization grow. I plan on making the Dash just as successful as the Dynamo on and off the field.” Ching and Canetti are currently involved in identifying a head coach and compiling a technical staff for the Dash’s inaugural season before building the roster through an expansion draft (date TBD) and the NWSL College Draft on Jan. 17. “This is great for the Dash and a perfect opportunity for Brian,” said Canetti. “He will be an effective leader and gain valuable experience in the process. I’m excited to work with him on developing the Dash into one of the premier women’s professional clubs in the world.” Ching ended his playing career at the conclusion of the 2013 MLS season. A Dynamo original, he spent eight of his 12 MLS seasons in Houston and retired as the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. The first Hawaiian-born player to make an appearance for the U.S. men’s national team, Ching was capped 45 times and scored 11 goals in international play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Saw him play live a couple times. Great player with a classy presence. Sounds like a great hire and godspeed to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bob Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Does Ching have any women's soccer experience whatsoever, even as a spectator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrandOne Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Saw him play live a couple times. Great player with a classy presence. Sounds like a great hire and godspeed to them. A great hire. Vic, please. Tell me you are joking. If you want NWS to succeed, he's easily the least qualified person for the role... in its traditional form. As a figure head-- hire Ching. Look pretty and say the right words. But last time I checked, he graduated with an accounting degree 10 years ago. I don't see how he knows anything about pushing an NWL team forward excellently. Hmm where have I seen this before? Doing a player a favor by grooming him for a position in MEN'S soccer like WOMEN'S soccer is a not worthy of excellence in its own right? Yeah, great choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Dead serious. I also think Laura Harvey in Seattle will be a flop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrandOne Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Like I say often-- relationships matter. There are better candidates for Dash GM than Brian Ching but he's the best choice for Dynamo's future. Laura Harvey has stacked the deck with too many egos for Reign to be successful... unless she has Sir Alex's touch managing great players. Time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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