Arsenal Ladies assistant and former W-League coach Emma Hayes has been named the coach of Chicago's Women's Professional Soccer team. The WPS begins play in 2009.
CHICAGO (May 15, 2008) Chicago WPS -- Having already helped lead her teams to a bevy of European championships, Arsenal Ladies assistant coach Emma Hayes is bringing her expertise Stateside and adding another title to her extensive résumé: inaugural head coach and director of soccer operations for Chicago Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). Team General Manager Marcia McDermott announced the hire today at a press conference at ToyotaPark, where the Chicago team will play when the WPS season begins in April of 2009.
"Emma has succeeded at every level she has coached. We feel she has the right experience, the passion and the knowledge to be a great leader for our club. She is prepared to take on the challenge of building a professional team from the onset," McDermott said.
She's also become a fan of the city and its soccer culture. "In the little time I've spent in Chicago I've found it to be a modern, progressive city with passionate soccer fans. I've already met several of the Fire's supporters and am hopeful that the environment they create in Section 8 for the Fire can be replicated for our team and our home games. We want ToyotaPark to have a real home field advantage. We will create an environment that will make players want to play here. I expect to have an active role in Chicago's soccer community, which will be a central part of what we're doing," Hayes said.
Since 2006, Hayes has served as first team assistant coach and academy director at the FA's Women's Premier League's top-ranked Arsenal Ladies Football Club in London, England. Hayes helped guide the Lady Gunners to an undefeated League record and won every competition England has to offer. Previously, she spent six years coaching in the United States, from the grass roots level all the way through the W-league and Division 1 college level.
Hayes attributes her time in Arsenal with preparing her for her new role in Chicago. "I've been fortunate to experience different professional soccer environments. From Arsenal, I've learned what its like to win championships and to build a culture of winning with a mentality of success on and off the pitch."
Prior to joining Arsenal, Hayes served as head women's soccer coach at IonaCollege in New Rochelle, NY. There she was responsible for delivering all aspects of the NCAA Division 1 soccer program including team training, tactics, video analysis, nutrition, fitness, health and wellness. She hired and supervised assistants, recruited elite college-bound athletes from throughout the United States, maintained the team's budget, directed and organized youth tournaments, raised funds, managed media-relations, organized team travel and ordered equipment.
Hayes' honors at Iona included the 2004 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year and the 2004-2005 MAAC Conference Championships.
Hayes also served as head coach domestically from 2001-2003 in the W-League with the Long Island Lady Riders. There she identified, recruited, developed, managed and retained the best female soccer athletes in the region for the first and reserve teams, worked with college coaches across the country, developed individual player programs, dealt with sponsors, managed media relations and organized travel.
The 31-year-old native of London's Camden Borough was recognized for her efforts with the Lady Riders as the 2002 National Coach of the Year as the youngest female head coach in W-League history.
Hayes' hiring is pending approval of her work visa.
Courtesy of Chicago Women's Pro Soccer
