The Houston Dash have parted ways with head coach Fabrice Gautrat and technical director Twila Kilgore, the club announced Sunday.
Jaime Frias will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 season, while the Dash begin their search for Gautrat’s replacement.
The announcement came on Sunday afternoon following Houston’s 1-0 loss to the Utah Royals on Saturday. The defeat extended the Dash’s losing streak to four games and leaves the club 12th in the NWSL standings with six regular-season matches remaining.
Houston currently sits 11 points behind the final playoff position, currently held by the Seattle Reign.
Gautrat joined the Dash as head coach in January 2025 after previously serving as an assistant coach with the North Carolina Courage. He is also the husband of former U.S. women’s national team midfielder Morgan Gautrat.
Kilgore’s departure comes much sooner after her arrival in Houston. She joined the Dash as technical director in February 2026 after previously working with the U.S. women’s national team, including a stint as interim head coach following the departure of Vlatko Andonovski in 2023.
The Dash entered the 2026 season with a young core and a longer-term outlook, making the decision to move on from both Gautrat and Kilgore midway through the campaign an unexpected one.
The club did not provide further details on the reasons for the departures.
In a statement on Instagram, Gautrat acknowledged the end of his time in Houston while expressing gratitude toward the players, staff and supporters.
“While this chapter didn’t end the way I hoped it would, I leave Houston with my head held high, my heart full, and an even greater belief in who I am as a coach and a leader,” Gautrat wrote.
He added that he would always be grateful for the relationships built during his time with the club.
Frias will now guide the Dash through the final six games of the regular season as Houston attempts to close the gap in the playoff race.
The club said its search for a permanent head coach is underway and will be led by Houston leadership.
