HOUSTON (Sept. 10, 2025) – Houston Dynamo FC and the Houston Dynamo Academy today announced the coaching staff for the 2025-26 MLS NEXT season, unveiling a group of highly accomplished and experienced professionals focused on developing the next generation of elite soccer talent in Houston.
The Dynamo Academy continues to lead MLS NEXT Pro in minutes played by Academy players, reflecting the Club’s ongoing commitment to providing meaningful developmental opportunities and a clear pathway from youth soccer to the professional level. Academy players regularly represent the city for various youth national teams, reinforcing Houston’s position as a leader in youth development.
The 2025-26 campaign marks a significant evolution in the MLS NEXT platform with the launch of two new competitions: the MLS NEXT Homegrown Divisionand the MLS NEXT Academy Division. The expanded structure includes 273 clubs, 2,189 teams, and more than 43,000 players, competing in over 28,000 matches across North America.
“The Houston Dynamo Academy remains the foundation of our player development pathway and a vital springboard for the Club’s future,” said Academy General Manager Tony Vigil. “We’ve never been more aligned across our First Team, Second Team, and Academy, and that alignment allows us to offer consistent opportunities for players to grow and earn their place at the next level. Our players consistently log the most MLS NEXT Pro minutes of any academy in the league, a testament to our belief in creating opportunities for our young players. We are proud of the commitment and daily dedication shown by our coaches and staff, who work tirelessly to nurture each player’s unique abilities and help them progress toward the professional ranks.”
The Houston Dynamo Academy remains a key pillar in the Club’s long-term sporting vision, underpinned by strong relationships with local youth clubs, player-first development models and a relentless pursuit of excellence across all age groups.
Houston Dynamo Academy 2025-26 Coaching Staff
Daniel Roberts (Head of Individual Development) – Roberts has spent nearly two decades connected to the Dynamo, beginning as one of the club’s first Academy players in 2006 before being selected in the 2012 MLS Draft. His time as an Academy player led him onto a coaching path with the club. Over the past 12 years, he has served in multiple roles, including U-16/18 Academy Assistant Coach, U-9 to U-12 Academy Head Coach and Lead Scout, U-23 Assistant Coach and Director of Operations, U-13/14 and U-15/16 Academy Head Coach, Formation Director and most recently, Houston Dynamo 2 Assistant Coach from 2022–2024.
Steph Rigaud (U-18 Head Coach) – Entering his third season with the Academy, Rigaud serves as the U-18 head coach. A native of New York, Rigaud began his coaching career with Blau Weiss Gottschee, where he also played, before moving on to roles with Richmond United in Virginia and later New York Cosmos. He went on to coach at Barça Residency Academy in Arizona, serving as U-17 head coach and Director of Academy Goalkeeping, before joining the Dynamo in 2023.
Scott Howey (U-16 Head Coach) – Howey joined the Academy in 2023 after spending seven seasons with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, where he coached at multiple levels, including the U-15 and U-17 academy teams. Before his time in Vancouver, he worked with Surrey United Soccer Club in British Columbia for more than six years, serving as Boys BCSPL head coach and assistant technical director.
Cristiano Scapolo (U-15 Head Coach) – Scapolo joins the Academy as U-15 Head Coach with more than 15 years of professional playing and coaching experience. He played in Serie A from 1990 to 2004 with Inter Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, Napoli and Roma. Following his playing career, Scapolo began coaching with AC Milan’s academies in the United States before serving as Technical Director and Coach at Real So Cal. He later worked as a scout for the U.S. Men’s National Team during Copa América 2016 and World Cup Qualifiers and as an academy coach with LAFC. Scapolo also spent time as an assistant coach with the U.S. U-16 and U-17 National Teams. Most recently, he served as U-17 and U-18 academy head coach with FC Cincinnati, where he also worked as a first team assistant coach during the 2021 MLS season.
Cassidy Chriest (U-14 Head Coach) – Chriest, who joined the Academy in February 2024, serves as U-14 Head Coach, bringing extensive experience developing youth players across club, high school and academy programs. She began coaching at age 15 and continued while playing and running track in college. Chriest served as head soccer coach and Coerver Skills coach from 2011 to 2019, head JV Women’s coach at SDOHS from 2018 to 2024 and head coach at RSL-AZ from 2019 to 2024. She also held roles as youth academy director and ECNL assistant coach at RSL-AZ from 2022 to 2024.
Patrik Abrahamsson (Head of Academy Goalkeeping) – Abrahamsson joined the Academy after serving as Head of Goalkeeping and first team assistant coach with FC Helsingør in the Danish 1st Division. He previously spent seven years as head of academy goalkeeping at Helsingborgs IF in Sweden before moving to Trelleborgs FF in the Swedish Superettan, where he also served as head of goalkeeping and first team assistant coach. Between 2021 and 2024, Abrahamsson coached goalkeepers for the Swedish youth national teams.
Johan Welch (Academy Goalkeeper Coach) – Welch grew up in the Dynamo Academy, joining the program at 14 before moving on to play collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During his time with the Dynamo, his father, Garth, coached him at the U-15 level. After injuries cut short his playing career, Welch returned to the club in 2022 as a part-time coach while rehabbing, before moving into a full-time role in January 2024. He now works alongside Abrahamsson with a focus on the U-14 through U-16 goalkeepers.
Pablo Reyes (Talent ID Manager) – Reyes joined the Dynamo Academy after volunteering with the Academy in 2018. He previously worked in youth programs, assisting with camps, community outreach and coaching the U-13 through U-17 teams before transitioning to a full-time scouting role in August 2021.
Kathleen Fuller (Head of Education and Player Care) – Fuller joined the Academy in 2022, initially as Academy Player Care Coordinator, and was promoted to Head of Education and Player Care in January 2025. She previously taught for five years in Colorado and worked part-time in event operations for the Colorado Rapids. Fuller earned her bachelor’s degree from Calvin University and a master’s in sports business from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. In her role, she oversees all players’ education, manages study hall, coordinates college recruitment and ensures the academic wellbeing of players across all age groups.
Rounding out the members of the Dynamo Academy are Development Coaches Boniek Garcia, Jon Giraldo, Jeremy Ngameni, Francisco Flores and Serebe Kajubi, Sports Performance Coaches Jordan Stewart-Mackie and Jayden Anderson, Athletic Trainers Adrian Gutierrez and Ashton Heitz, Academy Administrators Andrew Sibley and Aron Ortiz-Loredo and Education Coordinator Molly Gomez.
