After a three-month-long search, the Chicago Purple Stars introduced Lorne Donaldson because the membership’s new head coach Wednesday. 

Donaldson beforehand coached Jamaica’s ladies’s nationwide crew and led the crew throughout their historic run to the knockout rounds within the 2023 FIFA Girls’s World Cup. The Reggae Girlz grew to become the primary Caribbean nation to advance to the spherical of 16 through the match after beforehand making their first World Cup look in 2019.

He would be the third head coach within the Purple Stars’ NWSL historical past and is about to affix the membership in January forward of the 2024 NWSL Draft. The membership at present has 5 picks within the upcoming draft, together with the No. 3 general choice, and not too long ago employed former U.S. Soccer chief authorized officer Karen Leetzow as new membership president.

Donaldson’s legacy

Earlier than beginning his teaching profession, Donaldson was a participant in Kingston, Jamaica. He featured for the Jamaica nationwide crew earlier than enjoying in Denver with Metropolitan State College. He is been inducted into the College Corridor of Fame and the Colorado Youth Soccer Corridor of Fame.

The 68-year-old supervisor has coached varied youth groups from membership degree to worldwide degree. He hung out as Jamaica’s U17 head coach and was a U20 and full nationwide crew assistant earlier than being named fulltime head coach of the Reggae Girlz. 

“Lorne is the precise individual to guide us subsequent season,” mentioned Leetzow. “Lorne’s experiences as a embellished participant and as a successful coach on the youth, skilled, and worldwide degree will likely be invaluable for our gamers, coaches, and workers who’ve the chance to study from him.”

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In efforts to develop the game in the US, he co-founded the Black Soccer Coaches Affiliation of America. An initiative to carry African and Caribbean gamers and coaches a greater understanding of American soccer tradition.

“I am excited to work with this gifted crew that features a few of the NWSL’s finest gamers to show the Chicago Purple Stars right into a championship membership each on and off the pitch,” mentioned Donaldson. “I look ahead to partnering with Laura Ricketts and Karen Leetzow, who’re dedicated to making a tradition of excellence and accountability. What I’ve most loved in my profession is teaching elite athletes and serving to them attain and exceed their fullest potential.”

One other step in retaining Mal Swanson?

Donaldson’s in depth background on the youth membership degree is mirrored within the distinguished gamers he has coached with elite youth membership Actual Colorado. 

“Lorne has a confirmed observe file as a successful coach and an advocate for his athletes. We consider he has the expertise and management expertise to raise our gifted group of gamers,” mentioned Laura Ricketts, Purple Stars Government Chairperson. “Because the president of the elite youth membership Actual Colorado, Lorne additionally has deep ties to a few of the best U.S. gamers.”

As president and govt teaching director, Donaldson has helped form the careers of a number of worldwide and NWSL gamers. Janine Beckie (Portland Thorns FC) and Jaelin Howell (Racing Louisville FC) have performed their youth soccer with Actual Colorado, in addition to U.S. ladies’s nationwide crew forwards Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC) and Mallory Swanson. 

Swanson is at present a free agent this offseason however has performed with the Chicago Purple Stars since 2021. She sustained an damage to her left knee in April, underwent profitable surgical procedure on her torn patella tendon, and is continuous her return-to-play protocols. Regardless of the damage slicing her 2023 season quick, she closed out the 12 months as the highest scorer for the nationwide crew with simply 4 months of play. 

The 25-year-old ahead and her husband, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, each play their skilled careers in Chicago. Dansby signed a seven-year cope with the Cubs forward of the 2023 season. Regardless of the wish to play in a mutual market, free company is at all times unpredictable, however the Donaldson rent by the Purple Stars could possibly be a part of a pitch to additional assist retain Swanson’s attacking skills.

What’s subsequent

The 2024 NWSL Draft is about to happen in Anaheim, California at the US Soccer Coaches Conference. With a new possession group, membership president, and now head coach, the Purple Stars could lastly have sufficient items to actually look forward towards a rebuild. The NWSL 2024 common season will kick off on March 16.