DALLAS — We've got three matches already in the books.
Dallas Trinity has not lost yet and has done so without their head coach at the helm.
Former Scotland Women's National Team player Pauline MacDonald was named the Dallas Trinity FC head coach back in June. However, getting MacDonald's work visa approved took longer than expected.
Dallas Trinity FC General Manager Christ Petrucelli, who has coaching experience with SMU and professionally for the Chicago Red Stars, served as the interim coach in MacDonald's absence.
The Trinity got the first win in club history on Sept. 13 and have been off the past week and a half. The break was welcomed and perfect timing for MacDonald to get to work in North Texas.
"It's always been an ambition of mine to coach over here," MacDonald said. "For the next step, in terms of my progression, it was something that I really wanted to do. And it just felt right."
Both MacDonald and the players applauded the job Petrucelli has done in the meantime.
"It's very clear what she wants," Dallas Trinity FC midfielder Chioma Ubogagu said. "It's very clear with our culture and our standards are going to be and how we're going to do that moving forward."
"She's been absolutely amazing, we love her," Dallas Trinity FC midfielder Gracie Brian said. "She's such a good person, first of all. That was very evident from the start. And I think that's super important because it builds trust within us towards her. She definitely sees us as people before players, and I love that in a coach. It just makes you want to play better."
And though it rained before Monday's practice at The Hockaday School in northern Dallas, the considerably cooler weather was a change of pace from what we've seen recently.
"The heat," Macdonald said with a laugh when talking about what was different about coaching in Texas.
It'll take some time for MacDonald to adjust and implement her culture, but in the meantime, her focus is on establishing meaningful relationships with her players. One of her core beliefs, she said at practice Monday, is that players will give you more if they trust you and know you care about them.
"I want it to be very, very personable," MacDonald said. "To have an open door policy where the players can come, and they can speak to me. Whether it's about tactical or it's about personal things. I think you get the best out of people if you develop meaningful relationships with them, and so that's the kind of culture I want to create here at Dallas Trinity."