U.S. Soccer Names Cheryl Bailey as Executive Director of New Women’s Soccer League

CHICAGO (Nov. 29, 2012) - U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati announced today that Cheryl Bailey has been named the Executive Director for the new U.S. Soccer-led women's soccer league that will begin play in the spring of 2013.

Bailey served as General Manager of the U.S. Women's National Team for five years from 2007 through 2011. A long-time athletics administrator who led the support staff for the U.S. team during the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cups and the 2008 Olympics, she was in charge of all areas of Women's National Team administration including team travel, payroll, liaising with clubs, and working with FIFA, CONCACAF and other Federations.

"Cheryl was a highly regarded employee for U.S. Soccer during her time with the Women's National Team and she has the perfect skill set and experience to help get this league up and running," said Gulati. "Cheryl was one of the many pioneers for intercollegiate women's athletics and was immersed in the inner works of elite women's soccer for five years. We're excited to have her on board."

(credit ISIphotos.com)

"It was a wonderful experience to be a part of the bWomen's National Team for five years and see first-hand the impact that women's soccer players can have as role models," said Bailey. "The new league is another extension of that and a vitally important part of the continued growth of the sport in the United States. I am dedicated to ensuring that this league is set up with the best possible business model that emphasizes sustainability above all else while giving players a competitive environment in which to play and creating something special for young girls to aspire to."


Bailey was the Senior Associate Athletic Director and the Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Wisconsin for 15 years from 1990 to 2005. At Wisconsin, she was the sport administrator for 22 different teams, including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer and men's and women's ice hockey. Bailey developed strategic plans, set policies, oversaw a multi-million dollar budget and fundraising campaigns. She also was involved in the planning and decision-making with the Athletic Board and its committees, which included gender equity/diversity issues, academic, compliance, finance and facility development.
Bailey served on numerous committees while at Wisconsin, including stints as the chairs of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee from 2001-2004 and the Women's Soccer Committee from 1989-1993.
Before moving to Madison, she was the Athletic Director at Denison University (Ohio) from 1979-1990, where she oversaw 12 women's sports and was the head track and field coach (1981-1988), the head soccer coach (1979-1990) and was an assistant professor, teaching History of Sports, Psychology/Sociology of Sports, Ethics of Sports, Lifetime skills & Activity Classes.
U.S. Soccer will serve as the main organizational body for the new league and will subsidize the salaries of up to 24 U.S. Women's National Team players while the Canadian Soccer Association will do the same for up to 16 Canadian players and the Federation of Mexican Football will do the same for up to 12 Mexican players.

UVA's Caroline Miller named Hermann Trophy semifinalist

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia senior forward Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.) was named a semifinalist for the 2012 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious individual award in college soccer. Miller is one of 15 candidates announced Wednesday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The 2012 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Miller set single-season school records with 20 goals and 47 points this season. The conference leader in goals and points in 2012, she is one of just four players nationally to reach the 20-goal mark this season, and the first from the ACC in four years to accomplish the feat. Miller ended her season on a school-record eight-game goal scoring streak, tallying 11 goals against those eight opponents, all of which made the NCAA Tournament. A two-time ACC Player of the Week, she was named first-team All-ACC for the second consecutive season and was selected to the ACC All-Tournament Team as Virginia won the 2012 ACC Championship.

This year, fans will be able to vote for the award along with NSCAA member coaches. Fans can make their choice by visiting http://machermanntrophy.lockerdome.com. The three finalists for the award will be announced on December 6. The winners will be announced at the awards banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on January 11.

On Wednesday, Miller was also recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.com as that website announced its 2012 Team of the Season awards. Miller and sophomore midfielder Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) were named to the 2nd Team, while forward Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.) was named to the Freshman 1st Team. 

D.C. United President/CEO, Kevin Payne, Steps Down

Kevin Payne steps down as President and CEO

 

 

Washington, D.C. (November 27, 2012) - D.C. United, the most successful club in United States professional soccer history, announced today that Kevin Payne has stepped down as president and CEO, marking an end to nearly two decades with the organization.

“Kevin’s lengthy list of accomplishments speaks to his strong acumen as a leader,” said owner Jason Levien. “His dedication to the organization deserves deep admiration and appreciation. As D.C. United begins a new chapter, Kevin's leadership has helped to prepare us for this important and potential-filled inflection point in the club’s history.”

“As we thank Kevin for his service and wish him well, we look to the future with tremendous optimism,” added owner Erick Thohir.
Since D.C. United’s inception in 1996, Payne has served as the club’s lead executive. In addition to the club’s honors during his tenure, Payne’s resume at United is filled with individual League honors and awards and, for his efforts to promote soccer in the United States, he was awarded the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award by U.S. Soccer in February 2011.

“They say the only constant in life is change,” said Payne. “For me, D.C. United has been like my child. We brought the team into the D.C. and national sports world 17 years ago and every day since – good and bad – has been a labor of love. This team has provided many great memories of championships and historic accomplishments, but I will best remember the people I've had the chance to meet, to work with, strive with, celebrate with, and sometimes to share disappointment with.
“To the players, coaches, co-workers and fans, I can only say thank you so much for the great privilege of having been part of the D.C. United family. It’s very difficult for me to express how I have felt, and still feel, about all of you. I will forward a longer statement in the weeks to come to try to do a better job of thanking everyone for all they have meant to me.
“I'm very excited about the next phase of my life, and very excited about the next phase for D.C. United, as well. I know the leadership of the team will take it to new heights on, and off, the field. I look forward to returning to RFK and wish everyone in the D.C. United family the best of luck.”
D.C. United finished the 2012 MLS campaign 17-10-7 (58 points), placing third in the overall League table. The club finished the regular season with a seven-game unbeaten streak before a dramatic playoff run ended in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Very few people in American soccer have put their stamp on a club as Kevin has with D.C. United,” said United Head Coach Ben Olsen. “His loyalty to the team and me is something for which I’ll always be indebted.”

VIDEO: VCU Men Ousted by Syracuse in NCAA tournament

via vcuathletics YouTube:

Rams fall short against the Orange in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament.

NASL Virginia asking fans to name new team

NASL VIRGINIA: ONE MONTH LEFT TO SUBMIT NAMES FOR NEW SOCCER TEAM

 

Phase 2 begins December 19 and will culminate February 6, 2013

Ashburn, VA – November 19, 2012 – With hundreds of names pouring in during the first phase of NASL Virginia’s Name The Team contest, the organization has announced that we will extend the deadline for submission until noon on Wednesday, December 19. NASL Virginia will then initiate ‘Phase 2’ of the contest, whereby fans will choose from one of three finalists.

“The volume and quality of names we are receiving is overwhelming,” said Bob Farren, President and CEO of VIP Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of NASL VIrginia. “We will have some very difficult work to do to cull the list down to three final choices for fans on December 19. It is a great problem to have.”

Fans are encouraged to submit names for their new soccer team at NASLvirginia.com, at Facebook.com/NASLVirginia and at various locations across Northern Virginia. The contest is presented by Edelman Financial Services, Buffalo Wing Factory & Pub, Mountcastle Plastic Surgery and Sonak Family Chiropractic.

By 2014, the NASL will consist of 11 teams and their split-season format will run from Spring to July 4 and then Summer to early November, with the champion determined by the winner of the Spring Championship hosting the winner of the Fall Championship. The NASL Virginia franchise will host at least 16 regular season home games.

NASL Virginia’s Name The Team contest will conclude with a fan celebration on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at a location to be announced. This event will be in conjunction with a watch party during the United States Men’s Team World Cup Qualifier verses Honduras. At this celebration and party we will unveil the soccer team’s name, logo and home jersey.

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About the NASL: The North American Soccer League (NASL) is sanctioned as America’s Second Division of Professional Soccer by the United States Soccer Federation, just below Major League Soccer. The NASL is a professional men’s soccer league with eight current teams in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The NASL’s history reaches back to the late 1960’s and the original inception of a professional soccer league in the United States. The NASL was best known for great teams like the New York Cosmos, the Washington Diplomats, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the Tampa Bay Rowdies and world-class players like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia.

The league was reestablished in late 2009 and began league play on April 9, 2011 and the Minnesota Stars were the inaugural season’s champions and the Tampa Bay Rowdies recently won this year’s NASL Championship. The league will expand to nine teams with the return of the NY Cosmos in 2013 and to 12 teams with the introduction of Virginia and Ottawa for 2014.

About VIP Sports & Entertainment: The mission of VIP S&E is to provide the families of Northern Virginia with an unprecedented level of affordable entertainment all year long, for generations to come. The centerpiece of VIP’s community-focused endeavor is a stunning, innovative 5,500-general admission ballpark complex in the One Loudoun multi-purpose development near Dulles International Airport. The state-of-the-art facility will be designed to comfortably host Loudoun Hounds professional baseball, NASL professional soccer, high school and other amateur sports, as well as premium concerts, festivals, fairs and community events. With a range of unique amenities and distinctive features, VIP’s venue will truly be a place of “Universal Appeal With a Neighborhood Feel™.”