Dayton Dynamo were an outdoor soccer club based in Dayton, Ohio. The club was originally established in Cincinnati, Ohio, by David Satterwhite.[2] In 2017, Satterwhite sold the club to Cincinnati sports investor Jared Davis who immediately paused operations[3] before dissolving the organization in 2019 after a yearlong playing hiatus. They last participated in the National Premier Soccer League in the fourth tier of American soccer in 2017.
History
The team was originally known as the Cincinnati Saints and played in the affiliated amateur Premier Arena Soccer League.[4] In Cincinnati, the Saints home arena was the Western Sports Mall in Cincinnati, Ohio.[5] Starting in May 2014, the Saints played outdoor soccer as an expansion team in the Great Lakes Conference of the National Premier Soccer League.[6] In November 2015, the Saints announced their intentions to move the club to Dayton, Ohio. The Saints officially became the Dayton Dynamo in 2016 in honor of the city's historic indoor soccer team.[2]
The Cincinnati Saints began their PASL run with a win over the Cleveland Freeze but lost six of their next eight matches. With 7 games remaining in the regular season, only the Illinois Piasa carried a worse record in the Eastern Division and the team parted ways with original head coach Matt Brienes on January 8, naming former player Chris Morman as his interim replacement. The Saints also participated in the 2013–14 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer starting with a bye in the Round of 32 and a 10–6 loss to the Cleveland Freeze in the Round of 16, ending their tournament run. The Cincinnati Saints participated in the 2013–14 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer starting with a bye in the Round of 32 and a 10–6 loss to the Cleveland Freeze in the Round of 16, ending their tournament run.[citation needed]
2014–15 season
Following the de facto merger of the Professional Arena Soccer League with 6 teams from Major Indoor Soccer League and the rebranding of the league to Major Arena Soccer League, Cincinnati moved back to the Premier Arena Soccer League. Morman left the club and David Wall took his place.[8] The club finished 3rd in the Midwest Division with a 7–3 record.[9]
The Dynamo Era (2016–2017)
In December 2015, it was announced that the Cincinnati Saints were relocating to Dayton, Ohio, and changing their name to the Dayton Dynamo. In their inaugural 2016 campaign, the Dynamo competed in the National Premier Soccer League, Midwest Region, Great Lakes West Conference before moving to the Great Lakes East for 2017.[10] Halfway through the 2016 season, Wall was replaced as coach by his assistant, Dan Griest, who remained in charge through the Dynamo's last game.[8]
After purchasing the team, Jared Davis intentionally paused operations for the 2018 season, promising a fully professional team in 2019.[11] The team never competed again and officially folded on December 31, 2018, when the managing LLC dissolved.[12]