Dynamo name Wade Barrett interim coach for rest of season

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Wade Barrett is finally where he believes he belongs - head coach of the Houston Dynamo.

The Dynamo on Tuesday announced Barrett as their official interim coach for the remainder of the 2016 season. Barrett had been the acting interim coach for the last two games after the departure of Owen Coyle.

The team gained positive results in both road games under Barrett. Now he has a chance to show what he can do for the remaining 20 matches.

"I want to thank Gabriel Brener and the ownership group, Chris Canetti and Matt Jordan for a chance to lead this club forward," Barrett said in a release. "Houston is my home, and this club, in its entirety, is in my blood. We have a tremendous opportunity to create a standard of performance that will make the city and our fans proud."

Matt Jordan, the club's vice president and general manager, said Barrett will have a chance to make his case to be the head coach next season and beyond but that a decision will likely not be made until the offseason.

"We have asked Wade to focus on preparing the team to win games," Jordan said "After the season is over we will evaluate everything as a club."

HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 08: Wade Barrett #24 of the Houston Dynamo high fives fans while he walks down the ramp to the pitch before the Houston Dynamo play against the Seattle Sounders on November 8, 2009 at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/MLS via Getty Images) less HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 08: Wade Barrett #24 of the Houston Dynamo high fives fans while he walks down the ramp to the pitch before the Houston Dynamo play against the Seattle Sounders on November 8, 2009 at ... more Photo: MLS Via Getty Images Photo: MLS Via Getty Images Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close Dynamo name Wade Barrett interim coach for rest of season 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

Except for one day after training, Barrett remained mum about his intentions and desire to be the next Dynamo coach. Instead he chose to concentrate on preparing the team for each match.

When the original Dynamo captain did speak about the potential job, he said he hoped to get it.

"I have been in every MLS Cup that we won. I have been in every MLS Cup that we lost," Barrett said. "I know what it takes to get there. I know what it feels like to be where we are now and to want to get a little bit better. I have some real ideas about how to get there."

Barrett has been with the Dynamo for every significant moment in their 10-year history.

He was captain of the San Jose Earthquakes when they won the 2005 Supporter's Shield prior to moving to Houston. Barrett assisted on the first goal in Dynamo history. He played in every league game and playoff game except for one during the club's 2006 and 2007 MLS Cup title runs.

He wore the captain's armband for 138 of his 140 Dynamo appearances.

Barrett retired from playing in 2010 and immediately stepped into coaching on Dominic Kinnear's staff. When Kinnear left for San Jose after the 2014 season, Barrett remained in Houston to be an assistant under Coyle.

Three days after Coyle left the club Barrett led the team to a 1-1 draw in Vancouver. In the days following that result the players praised Barrett's approach. He had overwhelming support from the players with defender DaMarcus Beasley saying, "Wade is our coach. We're not thinking about who else is coming in."

Veteran midfielder Ricardo Clark played with Barrett from 2006 to 2009. He said last week that the Dynamo would do well by promoting Barrett.

"Wade knows the club," Clark said. "He's been here for a while. He understands what it takes in this league. If you look at the list of coaches who have been successful (in MLS) they have all been around the league for a while."

The Dynamo return to action on June 15 with a U.S. Open Cup game against San Antonio FC. Their next MLS match is at home June 18 against D.C. United.

Corey Roepken is a freelance writer.