Crystal Dunn praises Emma Hayes’ impact on US women’s national team after Olympic gold win
Twila Kilgore, the interim coach who played a crucial role in the US women’s national team’s Olympic gold medal victory, has parted ways with U.S. Soccer to pursue new coaching opportunities. Kilgore served as interim coach for nearly nine months before Hayes took over as head coach in May and remained as assistant coach afterwards.
Hayes praised Kilgore’s contributions, saying, “Twila stepped into a difficult situation when she took over after the World Cup. Her contributions to our team were invaluable. I am a big proponent of opportunities for female coaches, and we need more coaches in the United States like Twila.”
During her tenure, Kilgore oversaw the team for 14 games, guiding them to victory in the Concacaf W Gold Cup in March. She took over as interim coach following the team’s worst finish at a major tournament, a penalty-shootout loss to Sweden in the 2023 World Cup.
Kilgore worked closely with Hayes, who was hired in November 2023 but didn’t join the team until May due to her commitments with England’s Chelsea. The two collaborated on decisions, and Hayes eventually took over for four games ahead of the Olympics, leading the team to six straight wins and their first gold medal since 2012.
In a statement, Kilgore expressed gratitude for her time with the program, saying, “Being a part of this storied program as both an assistant and interim head coach has been both a privilege and rewarding experience… I’m not only leaving with a gold medal run, but also with incredible experiences, meaningful relationships and new ambitions.”
With several coaching vacancies in the National Women’s Soccer League, Kilgore’s next move is uncertain. However, her experience and credentials, including being the first American-born woman to earn a U.S. Soccer Pro license, make her an attractive candidate for teams looking for a new head coach or general manager.
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