Coaching Staff

Curt Onalfo was named as D.C. United's head coach on December 28, 2009. He is the sixth head coach in club history and has long-standing ties, having previously served the team as a player, director of youth development, and assistant coach.

Onalfo was most recently the head coach of the Kansas City Wizards. When he was hired prior to the 2007 MLS season, he took over a Wizards team that had not made the post-season in the team’s prior two campaigns (2005 and 2006). In his first season as the team’s skipper, he not only led Kansas City back to the post-season, but into the Eastern Conference Final. Onalfo then guided the team into the MLS Cup playoffs for a second consecutive year in 2008. During his two and a half seasons in Kansas City, Onalfo had a career record of 27-29-22, making the playoffs each of the full seasons he served as the team’s head coach.

Prior to his time in Kansas City, Onalfo spent four years (2003-06) as Bruce Arena’s assistant coach on the U.S. Men’s National Team. During his time with the U.S., the national team put together a record of 38-12-14 in all competitions. While at his post, the team was a semifinalist at the 2003 Gold Cup, and finished atop CONCACAF in 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification. Onalfo was with the team throughout the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, which included former United midfielder Ben Olsen as a member. He also served as an assistant to head coach Glenn ‘Mooch’ Myernick during Olympic qualifying for 2004 Athens.

From 1998-2002, Onalfo was a member of D.C. United, first as a player (1998-99) and then as an Assistant Coach and Director of Youth Development (2000-02). He first joined the team in 1998 under Bruce Arena and then played the 1999 season under Thomas Rongen. While with the team, he captured four trophies – the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, 1998 InterAmerican Cup, 1999 Supporters’ Shield and 1999 MLS Cup. After retiring at the end of the ’99 season, he joined Rongen’s staff as an assistant coach for the 2000 campaign. In 2001, Rongen and Onalfo together launched United’s youth academy program. Under Onalfo’s guidance, the club’s U-15 side won a national championship in its very first year of competition. In 2002, when Ray Hudson was hired as the team’s new head coach, Onalfo stayed on as an assistant for the duration of the campaign.

Onalfo began his MLS playing career during the League’s inaugural year as a member of the LA Galaxy, before moving to the San Jose Clash for the 1997 campaign. Prior to his time in MLS, Onalfo also played professionally in Mexico (Tampico FC, 1995-96), in the U.S.-based A-League (CT Wolves, 1994-95) and in France (FC LA Ciotat, 1991-92).

Onalfo also saw significant time representing the U.S. as a player. From 1987-1992, he played in over 100 games combined as a member of the U.S. Olympic team, the U.S. youth national teams and the full U.S. National Team. In 1992, he was named as a co-captain for the U.S. Olympic team that competed in Barcelona, Spain. In 1989, he served as a co-captain for the U.S. U-20 team, helping them to a fourth place finish at the U-20 World Championships in Saudi Arabia. At 18-years old, Onalfo earned a cap with the full U.S. Men’s National Team when he played in the U.S.’s 1-0 win over Costa Rica on June 14, 1988.

Onalfo spent his collegiate career at the University of Virginia, where he first teamed-up with coach Bruce Arena. In 1989, the Cavaliers shared the NCAA title with Santa Clara, battling to a 1-1 draw after sudden-death overtime. Onalfo, a central defender, earned All-ACC honors as a junior and senior.

At Ridgefield High in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Onalfo played on two state championship teams and was named as a High School All-American in 1987. He also won two conference titles and helped the Tigers reach the state finals, scoring 28 goals during his senior season.

Onalfo’s ties to the DC area are not limited to his time with United. In 1998, he launched Curt Onalfo Soccer in McLean, Virginia. Thousands of Washington-area youth were involved with the training and summer camp programs overseen by Onalfo. He also served as the Technical Director for McLean Youth Soccer.

Born on November 19, 1969 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Onalfo is a cancer survivor, having undergone treatment for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He and his wife Sandra have two children – Christian (12) and Gabriela (8).

Olsen’s coaching career began prior to the 2010 MLS campaign as an assistant coach under Curt Onalfo. He joined the coaching ranks after announcing his retirement as a player on November 24, 2009.

As a player, Olsen was amongst the club’s all-time leaders in several key categories at the time of his retirement – second in games played (221), minutes played (17,098) and game-winning goals (13), third in assists (49) and shots on goal (155), and seventh all-time in goals (29). Arguably the most popular player in United history, the midfielder won eight total trophies while in DC, including two MLS Cups (1999 & 2004). He was a two-time All-Star (1998 & 1999), the 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year, the 1999 MLS Cup MVP, the 2003 USSF Humanitarian of the Year and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2007.

In addition to his storied career with United, Olsen also had an illustrious career with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He made his full international debut against Australia on November 6, 1998. His first goal for the U.S. came in just his second international game when he tallied against Chile on February 21, 1999. In 2000, he was part of the team that reached the bronze medal game at the Sydney Olympics before falling to Chile. Olsen was selected to the 2006 World Cup team and played 51 minutes in the team’s final match against Ghana. All told, the midfielder earned 37 caps and six goals with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Prior to his professional career, from 1995-97, Olsen spent three seasons at the University of Virginia. During his time with the Cavaliers, the team posted a 56-8-8 record. All told, the midfielder compiled 34 goals with 41 assists and started and played every game (69) of his collegiate career. After his junior season, he was named the 1997 Soccer America Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. He was also named as the ACC Tournament MVP and selected to the NSCAA All-American first-team after his senior year.