North Texas SC has named Matt Hedges as the club’s newest assistant coach. The 14-year MLS veteran begins his professional coaching career after working with North Texas since late 2025.
“I am delighted to add Matt to our staff,” head coach John Gall said. “He is an FC Dallas legend who brings a stalwart mentality that made him so successful during his playing days. He’s a highly decorated player, the club’s all-time appearance leader, a three-time MLS All-Star, MLS Defender of the Year, U.S. National Team player, Gold Cup winner, collegiate All-American and national champion, MLS Supporters’ Shield winner, and U.S. Open Cup champion. He’s humble, hardworking, and has a real desire to help players grow. We just added a gem.”
Former FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja named Hedges club captain in 2014 at age 23, making him the youngest captain in team history. Hedges led Dallas to Western Conference regular-season titles in 2015 and 2016 and captained the team to its first MLS Supporters’ Shield and its second Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 2016.
Internationally, Hedges represented the United States, earning his first senior call-up in January 2015 and debuting on Feb. 8, 2015, against Panama. He earned five caps and helped the U.S. win the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup.
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Quick BDS Take
Following his retirement last year when the club signed him to a one-day contract, I asked Hedges if he had any desire to go into coaching. I don't have the exact quote from him on that day, but he smiled and said that he was eager to stay connected to the club in some capacity moving forward.
I assumed we'd see him go with an academy team first, but this is just as good. This kind of addition gives the North Texas SC players someone they can immediately look up to and learn from as they work to become professionals at the MLS level.
