Before moving to the U-20s, Rongen was the winningest coach in MLS history during his stints with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, New England Revolution and D.C. United from 1996 to 2001. That honor was part of an MLS coaching career that also saw him take home an MLS Coach of the Year Award, the 1999 MLS Cup and two regular season titles.

Rongen was named Coach of the Year in 1996 after leading Tampa Bay to a league-best 20-12 mark and the Eastern Conference regular season title. The high point of his MLS career came in 1999 in his first year as head coach of D.C. United. He guided United to a 23-9 mark during the regular season and topped the L.A. Galaxy for his first MLS crown.

Rongen moved to the United States in 1979 to play with the Los Angeles Aztecs after beginning his career with Dutch club Ajax and playing 25 matches with the Dutch Olympic Team. A defender and defensive midfielder, Rongen played with the Dutch legend Johan Cruyff at the Washington Diplomats.

Fluent in Dutch, German and English, Rongen married Gail Megaloudis a few hours before his MLS coaching debut on April 13, 1996.

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