Austin FC has appointed Nico Estevez, a former head coach of FC Dallas and assistant coach for the U.S. national team, in hopes of rejuvenating the team after two consecutive seasons of playoff absence in Major League Soccer.

Estevez had led Dallas to the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023, yet was dismissed in June of this year following a challenging start of 3 wins, 8 losses, and 5 draws. Under his leadership, Dallas finished in 11th place in the Western Conference, one position lower than Austin FC.

Taking over from Josh Wolff, who was the inaugural head coach for the Austin franchise since its debut in the 2021 season, Estevez’s hiring comes after Wolff’s termination on October 6, with just one match remaining in the regular season. Wolff guided the team to the Western Conference final in 2022, but the last two seasons have seen Austin miss the playoff competition entirely.

Estevez’s coaching credentials include a stint as an assistant with the U.S. national team from 2019 to 2021, and he rejoined the team this summer. He was part of coach Mauricio Pochettino’s coaching staff during recent friendlies where the national team achieved a victory over Panama and suffered a defeat against Mexico.

“Our search process was thorough, and we believe Estevez meets all our criteria,” stated Rodolfo Borrell, the sporting director for Austin FC. “His ambition is commendable, he possesses valuable MLS experience, and he understands the unique culture of Texas.”