Houston Dash suspend coach and GM James Clarkson amid investigation

The Houston Dash has suspended head coach and general manager James Clarkson, the team announced Tuesday.

The move comes at the recommendation of the NWSL and NWSLPA’s joint investigative team, which has been conducting a league-wide review of harassment and discrimination complaints since October 2021.

“Players made a promise to ourselves and future generations to transform our League – not through words, but with our actions,” NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke said in a statement. “This shows that our joint investigation is doing the work of systemic transformation. The work continues, and we commend players for speaking up and speaking out.”

The NWSL underwent a reckoning during the 2021 season after a series of abuse claims were uncovered, culminating in the accounts of coercion and abuse leveled at former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley, who was fired by the team in September.

The investigation into Clarkson is still ongoing. The 50-year-old had served as the coach of the Dash since the 2019 season. A decision on his future with the team will be made based on the final results of the league-wide inquiry, according to the club.

Houston will name an interim coach in the coming days.