The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Monday that Virginia women’s soccer coach Steve Swanson will take over as head coach of the U-20 Women’s National Team. Swanson will continue his duties as head coach of the Cavaliers.
In accepting the post, Swanson tipped his hat to U.S. Women’s Soccer Technical Director April Heinrichs, who led the Cavalier women before him and took on a new role with the national team in January.
“I am extremely grateful to U.S. Soccer, the University of Virginia, and specifically April Heinrichs for helping make this opportunity a reality,” said Swanson. “April’s vision and her long term commitment to the development of our sport on the women’s side is inspiring and is just one of the many reasons that makes this position so exciting.”
Swanson has been a fixture in the U.S. Women’s Soccer setup since 2000, when he took over from Heinrichs at UVA and became head coach of the U-16 Girls National Team.
The CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup will be held early next year. If the team advances through qualifying, it will compete next August at the World Cup in Uzbekistan. The United States has won two of the previous five U-20 Women’s World Cups, taking the title in 2002 and 2008.
Swanson thanked UVA for supporting him in his decision to take the new head coaching gig.
“I also want to thank my family, [UVa Athletics Director] Craig Littlepage, the coaching staff at Virginia and our players for their support in this endeavor. There is no way I could take on an opportunity like this without them.”
Swanson is entering his 12th season at Virginia and is the all-time winningest coach in program history with a 153-61-31 record (.688) over the past 11 seasons. He has led the Cavaliers to the NCAA Tournament each season, reaching the round of 16 nine times and the quarterfinals twice. In 2004, he guided Virginia to its first ACC Championship.
The Cavaliers play an exhibition against Notre Dame Friday, Aug. 12, in Maple City, Michigan.