Toppling street expectations, Gregg Berhalter’s assistant coach took over as the USMNT coach for the September friendlies. Prior reports suggested that to-be boss Mauricio Pochettino would take the US team’s reins before they face Jesse Marsch’s Canada this weekend. Now the task is upon Berhalter’s assistant to start rebuilding the team, devastated in the recent Copa America. In office, Varas has announced the USMNT’s 24-player squad for this month’s camp. Though the interim USMNT boss is the talk of the town now, fans seem only a little aware of his career and personal life.

Let’s find out as we go deeper into the 41-year-old’s coaching career and stint under former coach Gregg Berhalter. We’ll also have you covered about the Chilean-American coach’s family as well.

Which teams did Mikey Varas coach before joining as the USMNT’s interim boss

“The opportunity is once in a lifetime. Anytime you get to represent your country, you have to cherish that moment. At the end of the day though, it’s more than an opportunity. It’s also a massive responsibility, and we are committed to making sure we have this group to show everyone who we are as a team,” said Mikey Varas in a US Soccer interview. Though it’s his first time at the helm of the senior USMNT team, Varas had previously chanced to represent the nation, as he proudly said.

He coached the US men’s U-20 side from 2021 to 2023 before he joined the senior team as coach Gregg Berhalter’s assistant. During his stint, Varas saw the USMNT win the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2023. Before the US Soccer Federation spotted Varas, he was an assistant manager to the MLS side FC Dallas.

The 41-year-old also managed Dallas’ academy team from 2017 to 2019. He started his coaching journey in 2016 with Sacramento Republic FC academy. Indeed, the former MLS coach has quite an impressive CV to be at the USMNT’s helm for the time being.

Now, let’s take your focus on the ex-U-20 boss’s personal life.

Here’s what we know about Varas’ parents and wife

Though the likes of Jose Mourinho are an exception, football coaches do not generally reveal much about their personal life on social media. Mikey Varas is one such traditional coach. He appears inactive on social media, so we haven’t seen anything about his personal life. However, he had mentioned in a 2022 interview that his father is of Chilean origin. And his mother is American.

Thanks to his parents’ roots, Varas was eligible to play and coach for both countries. He stuck on to his mom’s nation anyhow.

Mikey Varas’ wife Jessica Hibbard is also as inactive as Varas with social media usage. However, from a wedding invitation on the web, we figured that Varas and Hibbard tied the knot in August 2011. Besides, Jessica Hibbard occasionally posts on X. Other than political commentary, she heavily posts about the USMNT’s success while Varas has been a part of its coaching team. If the September friendlies pan out well, Jessica will surely have more stuff to post about.

Meanwhile, Berhalter’s permanent replacement Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be unveiled this week. Since Varas is at the helm, the Argentine will probably join next month after observing the USMNT’s September friendlies.