Louisville City boss Danny Cruz on his early coaching start, his pro playing career, and a unique sports childhood in Arizona

The 32-year-old Danny Cruz stepped into the Louisville City head coaching position last year after serving as John Hackworth‘s assistant since 2018. Cruz, who played for the USA at the 2007 U-17 World Cup (under Hackworth) and the 2009 U-20 World Cup, hadn’t started playing organized soccer till age 14. His entry into pro coaching, however, came early. After a pro playing career — he was drafted by the Houston Dynamo out of UNLV in 2009 — that also included stints with D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union, he became an assistant coach at his final team, the Real Monarchs, at age 28.