COACHING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

In July 2023, the Washington Spirit announced its new Coaching Mentorship program to elevate and support female soccer coaches in the Washington, D.C. region. The mentorship program is designed to increase opportunities for female coaches, proactively develop their careers, create a coaching pipeline, and provide them a valuable professional network. The inaugural cohort included three local coaches from the Alexandria Soccer Association, DC SCORES, and the Player Progression Academy.

In 2025, the program expanded to include 10 mentees who will participate in the program from March to November. Throughout the program, mentees will:

• Shadow a member of the coaching staff at selected Spirit training sessions
• Participate in mentor sessions with Spirit coaches
• Complete a sport performance seminar
• Attend a chalk talk with Spirit management
• Experience three Spirit matches at Audi Field during the 2025 season

The following coaches were selected to the 2025 cohort:

• Karen Billingslea – Villareal Virginia Director of Girls Coaching, Head Coach U11-U19, VA Marauders, W-League, Assistant Coach
• Mackayla Brodie – Head Coach and Program Director, Loudoun Soccer Club
• Celeste Buss – DC Way Academy Head Coach, Youth Girls Coordinator, and Club Manager
• Allie Coyle – Head Coach Boys Varsity, Blair High School
• Jane Dawber – DC Soccer Club, Youth Director, Virginia Marauders W-League Head Coach
• Allison Diaz – Head Coach Girls Varsity, St. John’s College High School, Coach Arlington Soccer  Association
• Madison Ferrara – Notre Dame Preparatory School Assistant JV Coach, Coppermine SC Girls Academy Director
• Erica Klein – MSI Travel Program Director and Head Coach Girls Soccer, Flint Hill School
• Bupe Okeowo – League Commissioner and Coach – The Player Progression Academy
• Alyssa Whitehead – Arlington Soccer Association Girls Academy Goalkeeper Director