D.C. United Women News Release - www.dcunitedwomen.com
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
GERMANTOWN, MD - D.C. United Women didn't need to look far for its first-ever coach, selecting longtime Washington-area youth soccer coach Michael "Mike" Jorden to lead the new women's team in its inaugural season, the new United Soccer Leagues W-League club announced today.
"Mike is one of the best coaches in the region, with a long track record of success in developing female players as well as winning," said D.C. United Women General Manager Tim Schweitzer. "He brings the perfect combination of coaching ability and the relationships with top programs that we need to quickly build a highly competitive team. We couldn't be happier to have him on board, and the team building has already moved into high gear."
Jorden, a 10-time Virginia state cup champion coach, said he's excited to take the helm of the W-League team.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for me to work with a great group of people," said Jorden, a native of Dayton, Ohio. "Tim and everyone in the front office at D.C. United Women are all first class. We have a lot of work to do in a short time frame and I am looking forward to the challenge."
Jorden has coached with several Northern Virginia youth clubs over the last 10 years, including Herndon, Reston, Loudoun, Sterling, Southwestern, McLean, Chantilly Soccer Club and most recently, FC Virginia, an ECNL club in Fairfax.
He has two U.S. Youth Soccer Region I titles - in 2003 with Sterling Elite U13 girls and in 2009 with the U15 Chantilly Burn girls team - and has captured Virginia state titles in every age group the competition is held.
In 2008, Jorden coached two girls teams at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region I tournament in Maine, with both teams - the U18 McLean Freedom and the U14 Chantilly Burn - taking second place.
Jorden's 2009 Chantilly Burn U15 team advanced to the U.S. Youth National Championships, where the side went undefeated in three draws, taking third place overall.
His many youth tournament championships include the WAGS/Rael Vodicka Memorial Tournament, the CASL Girls Shootout (Raleigh, N.C.), the Atlanta Cup, the Disney Showcase in Orlando, Fla. and the Players' Development Academy Showcase in New Jersey.
D.C. United Women will draw players from a large pool of elite college standouts, international stars and former professionals. With numerous veteran stars and top collegiate programs in the Washington metro area, expectations will be high when United takes the field this summer.
Jorden, who was also affiliated with Virginia's Olympic Development Program for 10 years, said he wouldn't be surprised to one day coach his former youth players on D.C. United Women.
"The idea of re-connecting with some of my former players and building relationships with new ones is extremely exciting," he said.
D.C. United Women fill the vacancy left by the departure of the Washington Freedom Futures and will play their home matches at the Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown, Md. Also the former home of the WPS Washington Freedom, the Soccerplex is an ideal showcase for women's minor league soccer in the D.C. metropolitan area.
D.C. United Women face a challenging slate of opponents in the Northeast Division this season, including notable W-League mainstays New York Magic and Long Island Rough Riders. United Women open the season on May 25th with a visit to the 2005 W-League Champions, New Jersey Wildcats. The club will kick off its home season on Thursday, June 9th with a rematch against the Wildcats at 7:00 pm.