Video: For John Gall, Not a Demotion to Return to North Texas

Afterburn was able to speak with returning North Texas head coach John Gall this morning to catch up. We'll share more snippets throughout the week.

Returning North Texas head coach John Gall acknowledges that the year has been an interesting one for him. He had a full offseason with North Texas after taking over the team at the tail end of 2023 and then got promoted to the first team staff as Peter Luccin tried to right the FC Dallas push for playoff contention. Now, he’s back where he started, taking over after Michel steps up to the first team.

But he was clear to Afterburn soccer that he doesn’t see the move as a demotion.

“People asked me, is it difficult moving from the first team to the second team?” Gall said. “I don’t look at it as a demotion or a backward step. Look, at most clubs, the head coach of the first team and the second team are pretty important people. It’s something I feel very honored and privileged that I get to lead the group and lead the team.”

Gall used a metaphor in the conversation that North Texas Soccer Club is already a ship sailing in a good direction. He’s grateful that he doesn’t have to pick up the pieces but can keep it moving forward, hopefully for another championship.

But he acknowledged it was a rollercoaster of a year, though one where he saw affirmation of his leadership as a head coach.

“The fact that those players (from North Texas) bought into what was expected of them was a testament to our ability as coaches to get the players to do that. But it’s also a testament to the amazing group of people I got to work with last year,” Gall said. “I would see the boys on a daily basis, and they would talk about wishing me luck or missing me as part of their group. That goes a long way as a coach. When you affect people that way, it shows you are doing a good job, not just Xs and Os, but that you affect people.”