Dominic Kinnear is going home.
The San Jose Earthquakes announced on Wednesday that Kinnear will leave the Houston Dynamo after nine seasons with the club to take over as the head coach of the Quakes, effective at the end of the regular season. Current San Jose head coach Mark Watson - who took over for former boss Frank Yallop in June 2013 - has been relieved of his duties, and Quakes assistant coach Ian Russell will guide the team as interim head coach for the final two games of the season.
"After nine fantastic years, it’s sad and difficult to see Dominic departing the Dynamo,” Dynamo president Chris Canetti said in a statment. “We’ve had a great run together, and he’s played a vital role in who we are as a club. We will sorely miss him as a coach and as a person. We understood his desire to return home to San Jose and felt it was appropriate to grant him that wish after all he’s done for us. We wish him and his family the best of luck in the future.”
Kinnear will coach his final home game with the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium against the New England Revolution on Thursday before closing their season on the road at Chicago on Oct. 24. Both the Dynamo and the Earthquakes have been eliminated from postseason contention.
The Houston Chronicle first reported in late September that the Dynamo had given Kinnear permission to speak with the Earthquakes about a return to San Jose, and reported Tuesday those conversations occurred last month. Both the Houston Chronicleand Fox Sports Houston reported Tuesday that Kinnear informed the Dynamo coaching staff of his decision to step down from the post last week.
Kinnear, who was born in Scotland but grew up in the San Jose area and still has family there, got his coaching start as an assistant under Yallop during the latter's first stint in San Jose. The duo led the team to MLS Cup wins in 2001 and 2003 before Kinnear took the reins in 2004 and later guided the Earthquakes to a Supporters' Shield in 2005, the franchise's last season in its original Bay Area stay.
Kinnear helped the Dynamo capture the MLS Cup in 2006 and 2007, and led them to two more consecutive MLS Cup appearances in 2011 and 2012, both of which they lost to the LA Galaxy. His 15 playoff wins are third most among head coaches in MLS history.
Watson, meanwhile, has posted a 17-20-14 record since taking over last summer. The Quakes are currently 6-15-11 in 2014 with two games remaining and sit last in the Western Conference.
"I think there’s been a lot of challenges this season," Quakes president Dave Kaval told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday night during the team's friendly against Honduran club CDS Vida. "It’s been frustrating for me as the team president, because I feel we haven’t played to our potential. But, by the same token, we’re very focused on building this offseason to be successful and making the necessary investments to get there. For sure."
For the final two matches of the season, Russell will be joined on the Quakes sideline by current goalkeeper coach Jason Batty. Assistant coach Nick Dasovic has also been relieved of his duties.
