Dash name Morales interim coach for 2017

The Houston Dash have named Omar Morales the club’s interim head coach for the remainder of the 2017 season. Morales took over on Memorial day after the club parted ways with Randy Waldrum. In his first game in charge the Dash lost 2-0 in Washington to extend their losing skid to five games.

“This is something you dream of when you get into coaching,” Morales said. “I learned a lot from my first game on the sideline, and as the head coach a lot of responsibility falls on you.”

The Dash, and the rest of NWSL, are off this week for the FIFA window which will give Morales some time to tinker and make some personnel or tactical adjustments. Perhaps the most consistent hole for the Dash over the years has been center back. In Washington, Morales tried a new wrinkle when he dropped Amber Brooks back to a central defender role.

Morales’s effort should be buoyed by the return of Carli Lloyd. After spending the early part of the season at Manchester City, Lloyd is expected to make her 2017 Dash debut when the club hosts the Orlando Pride on June 17.

“You take everything in and learn to manage the game at this level,” Morales said. “Other than that, its soccer.”