Davy Arnaud excited for Dynamo coaching opportunity

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Davy Arnaud created lots of good memories during his 14-year MLS career that included 351 appearances, 50 goals and 46 assists. One of his worst, however, came against the Dynamo in Houston.

Playing for the Kansas City Wizards in May 2010, Arnaud ran onto a pass at the same time Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad got to it and contacted Onstad with his boot. The referee sent off Arnaud 33 minutes into a match the Dynamo eventually won, 3-0.

A native of Nederland, Arnaud had a strong fan base of family and friends that day at Robertson Stadium. He was bitter about the ejection.

"For the record, it wasn't a red card," Arnaud said Monday. "The next time I saw the referee he said he got it wrong. That didn't make it feel much better."

Arnaud, 36, healed from that memory long ago and now hopes to make more good memories as a member of the Dynamo coaching staff. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera hired Arnaud away from D.C. United earlier this month, where he coached for one season after retiring as a player following the 2015 season.

A former midfielder, Arnaud will have a hand in guiding the Dynamo attack. Since he is not far removed from playing in the league himself he also will take on the role of being a bridge between the players and Cabrera.

Being back home in Texas is good, Arnaud said, but it was not a requirement. He simply wants a chance to make a big difference with a club that is all in. He said he quickly noticed that aspect of the Dynamo front office.

D.C. United midfielder Davy Arnaud,left, pushes off of Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. D.C. United midfielder Davy Arnaud,left, pushes off of Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Davy Arnaud excited for Dynamo coaching opportunity 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

"I haven't been here for long, but I can already see the commitment from those guys and how hard they are working," Arnaud said. "They are fully committed to getting things back in the right direction. I have always had a lot of admiration for this club."

Of course, Arnaud is talking more about the Dynamo's early years than their current three-year run of missing the postseason. He said it is difficult to tell what might have happened to untrack the Dynamo.

One thing that might help the most, he said, is building confidence.

"You need a little bit of that swagger back," Arnaud said. "It is a fine line in our league between teams that are successful and not as successful. It doesn't take a lot to get things going in the right direction again."