HOUSTON – The Houston Dynamo are securing their leader for the future, and now it’s time to make an extended postseason run.
The club announced Wednesday a contract extension for head coach Ben Olsen, ensuring his continued leadership with the Club. The extension runs through the 2027-28 season.
“Our vision has been to build a sustainable winner that makes the city of Houston proud, and Ben has been central to realizing that vision,” said Dynamo President of Soccer Pat Onstad. “Under his leadership, the team has reestablished itself as a contender, lifted the U.S. Open Cup, qualified for international competition and secured its third MLS Cup Playoffs berth in four seasons. Beyond those results, Ben has helped restore the identity of our Club by producing a competitive team, cultivating a resilient and unified culture, and developing young talent from around the world.”
“We have built a strong foundation together, and I look forward to continuing that work with Ben as we pursue sustained success and compete for more trophies for the Club and the city of Houston.”
Olsen’s Dynamo are currently fifth in the standings with a 13-9-8 (W-L-D) record on 47 points, the fourth-highest point total in Club history through 30 matches. The Dynamo have avoided defeat in 13 of 16 matches since the resumption of league play following the World Cup. Olsen has also led the Dynamo to a strong 8-3-4 (W-L-D) home record at Shell Energy Stadium so far this season.
“I was drawn to this opportunity with the Dynamo because of the significant potential of both the Club and the city, and I am proud of the progress we have made together and the standards we have established,” said Olsen. “That progress reflects the commitment of our players, coaches and staff, along with the unwavering support of our fans. I am grateful to Ted, Pat and the entire Dynamo organization for their continued trust and belief in what we are working toward. I am energized by the opportunity to continue building on our success and make the city of Houston proud.”
Houston recently clinched a spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs this past weekend, marking the third time in the last four seasons that the Dynamo have qualified for the postseason under Olsen. Notably, he ranks second in Club history for the most playoff appearances achieved during a head coach’s tenure (Dominic Kinnear, seven postseason appearances with the Dynamo).
Under Olsen, a former U.S. Men’s National Team player, the Dynamo have maintained their strong defensive identity this season, allowing the fifth-fewest goals (39) and posting 11 clean sheets, the second-most in team history. Notably, the team’s recent five-match shutout streak tied a league record, and it held opponents scoreless for an impressive 485 minutes earlier this season, the second-longest run in the last decade for the Dynamo.
The 49-year-old head coach is one of three active MLS head coaches to lead a team to the playoffs eight or more times, joining Bruce Arena and Brian Schmetzer. Olsen ranks seventh all time among MLS head coaches with 164 regular-season wins, reaching 150 last season when the Dynamo earned a 3-2 road win over St. Louis CITY SC.
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