Dominic Kinnear is apparently going home. With the Houston Dynamo now eliminated from the playoff chase, the head coach told his staff and players that he'd be moving back to the San Jose Earthquakes at the end of the season, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle.
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Kinnear has been the only head coach in Dynamo history, but has deep roots in the Bay Area. The native of Scotland grew up in Fremont and most of his family still lives in the area. Kinnear also got his coaching start with the Earthquakes, first as an assistant on Frank Yallop's staff from 2001-03 and then as the head coach from 2004-05. Kinnear remained the head coach when the Earthquakes effectively moved to Houston ahead of the 2006 season, winning two MLS Cups and advancing to two more finals.
The report will surely cause a bit of a squirming, at least in San Jose where Mark Watson is still the head coach. Watson actually replaced Yallop in San Jose, but has failed to qualify for the playoffs in either of his seasons at the helm.
Kinnear won't be the most exciting hire the Earthquakes could make, but it's hard to argue with his results. This is just the second time in nine years that the Dynamo have failed to make the postseason and he's gone 129-91-99 in his 11 total seasons as a MLS head coach.