HOUSTON (Sept. 11, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC and the Houston Dynamo Academy today announced additions and promotions to the staff for the 2026-27 MLS NEXT season. The Academy staff brings valuable talent and experience to an already accomplished group focused on leading the next generation of elite Houston soccer talent through its professional player pathway.
Notably, the Dynamo Academy has made their mark with Houston Dynamo 2, consistently leading the nation in minutes played at the MLS NEXT Pro level over the past three seasons, while also being a regular team in MLSNP playoffs. This year, Dynamo 2 ranks among the top ten teams in the league in minutes played by academy players, illustrating the Club’s continued commitment to provide professional opportunities for the top youth players in Houston. Over the past three years, six Dynamo Academy players have signed Homegrown contracts with the first team, including **Matthew** **Arana**, **Mattheo** **Dimareli**, **Logan** **Erb**, **Reese** **Miller**, **Sebastian** **Rodriguez** and **Kieran** **Sargeant**.
The Dynamo Academy is also making a growing impact at the highest levels of college soccer. Diego Rosas (University of Portland) and Ryan Okerayi (Houston Christian) were both named to the United Soccer Coaches Watch List for the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann, only awarded to the nation’s top collegiate soccer player. Multiple Academy graduates have also featured in many of the top college programs across the country, including University of Virginia, Oregon State, Georgetown, Wake Forest, UNC, Cornell, Columbia University and Brown University. Every member of last year’s class of Academy graduates has either earned a professional contract or a spot on a NCAA Division I roster this fall.
“As we enter the 2026-27 season, the Dynamo Academy will look to build on its momentum of producing professional and top collegiate players from the Houston area,” said Academy General Manager BryanScales. “We are responsible for providing the most challenging and professional experience that prepares our players for the road ahead on and off the field. Top-quality educators and, more importantly, top-quality people are critical to that mission, and we are thrilled to welcome some exciting new additions and celebrate well-deserved promotions that will build on the strength of our player pathway."
Scott Howey (Academy Technical Director/U-18 Interim Head Coach) – After serving as the Club's U-16 coach, Howey steps into the new role of Academy Technical Director, where he will lead the Academy's technical framework and player development across all age groups. Notably, he holds the prestigious Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL), an MLS coaching program in partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF). He first joined the Dynamo Academy in 2023 after spending seven seasons with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps FC, where he coached at multiple levels, including as an assistant coach at the U-14 level and head coach at the U-15 and U-17 levels. Howey previously served as assistant technical director and high-performance league head coach at Surrey United Soccer Club in British Columbia (2012-17). The Canadian native has additional coaching experience with the British Columbia Soccer Association, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langley United Soccer Association, North Shore Soccer Development Centre and European Football School. Howey will also serve as the Dynamo Academy’s U-18 Interim Head Coach.
Patrick Ouckama (Pro Pathway Head Coach for U-16) – Ouckama joins the Club with nearly two decades of experience developing elite youth players and leading academy programs in MLS. Notably, he holds the prestigious Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL), an MLS coaching program in partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF). Prior to his most recent position as Technical Director at MLS NEXT side Pennsylvania Classics AC, Ouckama served as D.C. United's Academy Director for four years, where he oversaw all aspects of academy operations and worked to strengthen the club's player pathway to the first team. Ouckama has previously held leadership and coaching roles with the New England Revolution Academy, Ithaca College, Cornell University, New York SC/Castleford SC and the Westchester Soccer Academy. Notably, he coached the Eastern All-Stars at the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game, won the 2022 U-16 MLS NEXT Cup with D.C. United and coached New England's U-14 squad to Montreal International Cup success.
Arez Ardalani (Pro Pathway Assistant Coach) – Ardalani joins the Academy with experience across professional and youth environments in the United States, Germany and Canada. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach at TuS BW Königsdorf in Germany (January 2025-August 2026), working with both the first team in the Oberliga, Germany's fifth tier, and the U-19 squad. Ardalani also held a role as an international talent squad coach with Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln from August 2024 to May 2025. Prior to his time in Europe, the Texas native served as an assistant coach and head of analysis for Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League and as head coach and technical director at Texas United in USL League Two. Notably, Ardalani led Texas United to their first-ever Mid-South Division title in USL League Two during the 2022 season, finishing with an undefeated 9-0-5 (WLD) record. He also led them to two consecutive postseason berths in 2021 and 2022.
Jonathan Giraldo (Pro Pathway Head Coach for U-14) – Giraldo, a former professional player with nearly 20 years of coaching experience, enters his fourth season with the Dynamo Academy in a new role as the U-14's head coach. His coaching experience spans across the youth and amateur levels in the Houston and New York City soccer markets, including roles with Asphalt Green Soccer Club (2008-10), RISE SC (2017) and Albion Hurricanes FC (2019-20), as well as serving as head coach at Athletic Houston (2019-21) in the United Premier Soccer League and The Houston Aces (2018-22) in the Women's Premier Soccer League. Giraldo is also founder and owner of Toros HTX, a leading futsal organization in Houston.
Rounding out the rest of the Dynamo Academy staff members are:
- Cristiano Scapolo - Pro Pathway Head Coach for U-15
- Boniek Garcia - Pro Pathway Assistant Coach
- Johan Welch - Academy Goalkeeper Coach
- Tyler Deric - Academy Goalkeeper Coach
- Jimmy Haley - Academy Sports Performance Coach
- Dylan Smith - Academy Sports Performance Coach
- Ashton Heitz - Academy Athletic Trainer
- Enrique De La Cruz-Galindo - Academy Athletic Trainer
- Pablo Reyes - Talent ID Manager
- Kathleen Fuller - Head of Education & Player Welfare
- Molly Gomez - Education Coordinator
- Andrew Sibley - Academy Administrator
- Aron Ortiz-Loredo - Academy Administrator
The Dynamo Academy is part of MLS NEXT, a league that develops youth soccer players in North America through structured training and coaching. The 2026-27 season will continue to build on the launch of the MLS NEXT Academy Division last season, which broadened participation alongside the top tier of competition, the MLS NEXT Allstate Homegrown Division, and further deepened the overall player development ecosystem. MLS NEXT is represented in 40 states, along with the District of Columbia, and includes 318 clubs and more than 53,000 players.
