Oscar De La Hoya
Part Owner of the Houston Dynamo
Oscar De la Hoya is part owner of the Houston Dynamo, with a 25% equity stake in the organization. De la Hoya is an iconic figure in the sports and entertainment world. He dominated his sport of boxing in both the amateur and professional ranks, and now is an influential promoter, businessman, and philanthropist.
De La Hoya's amateur career included 223 wins, 163 by knockout, with only 6 losses. He won the United States' only boxing gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, was Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Year" in 1995 and Ring Magazine's top-rated Pound for Pound fighter in the world in 1997. De La Hoya has defeated 17 world champions and has won 10 world titles in six different weight classes. He is a member of the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.
De La Hoya founded Golden Boy Promotions, and started a charitable foundation to help underprivileged youth to education. In 2008, he donated $3.5 million to the De La Hoya Animo Charter High School.
Like the Dynamo organization itself, De la Hoya knows what it takes to be a champion. He knows how much hard work and dedication is required to turn talent into success. He is an excellent example and role model for the Dynamo Academy hopefuls in their attempts to fulfill their dreams of becoming professional athletes.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oliver Luck
President & General Manager of the Houston Dynamo
Oliver Luck was named as the first President and General Manager of the Houston Dynamo on December 15, 2005.
In its inaugural season, the new franchise won the MLS Cup championship under Luck’s stewardship, and then came back and did it again the following year for back to back championship titles. Now in its fourth year, the Dynamo is once again competing for the MLS championship.
Luck is no newcomer to the sports world, or to being a winner. He was a record setting quarterback at West Virginia University, where off the field he also excelled. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and went on to get a law degree from the University of Texas.
On the field, Luck was a star, and was selected in the 2nd round of the 1982 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers, for whom he played 5 seasons. After retirement, Luck was named to the Academic All American Hall of Fame.
The Houston Dynamo Academy hopefuls and players have yet another role model in Luck. Here is a man who has been consistently recognized for his achievements both on and off the field, and has worked tirelessly to give back to both his community and his family. From his own experience and with a son in the intercollegiate system, Luck has a personal understanding of what obstacles and decisions some of the Academy players will face – and has tough choices to make himself as he tries to build a winning franchise from within.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chris Canetti
Chief Operating Officer of the Houston Dynamo
Chris Canetti is in his 10th season in Major League Soccer and his 16th year overall in the professional sports industry. Canetti joined the Dynamo in 2006 as Chief Operating Officer and oversees all aspects of the team's business, including: sales and marketing, public relations, broadcasting, operations, team administration and youth development. He is directly responsible for helping put a winning organization together.
In 2008 Canetti won the Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year Award - MLS’ top executive honor.
Canetti has a tangible passion for both people and sports, and he has translated that passion into multiple championship seasons both with the Dynamo and with other professional sports franchises. Canetti is intimately involved with the youth program, and helps guide James and the other coaches.
