Tracey Kevins appointed as head coach of U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team

CHICAGO – U.S. Soccer has appointed Tracey Kevins as the new head coach of the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team.

Kevins will lead the U-20 USWNT training camp this week at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., as the team returns to the field following a long pause due to the global pandemic. The camp kick off preparations for the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship, scheduled for early next year.

Kevins joined U.S. Soccer in 2017 as head coach of the U-15 Girls’ National Team head coach and transitioned to lead the U-17 USWNT in 2019. In preparation for the eventually canceled 2020 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship, Kevins led the U-17s to a 11-1-1 record with a 40-9 goal differential.

“We’re excited to have Tracey take over the U-20s and lead them into international competition early next year,” said USWNT General Manager Kate Markgraf. “She’s done an exceptional job over the last five years with U.S. Soccer and we’ve been impressed with her work at each age group she’s coached. She’s an excellent communicator, cares about the players and their growth and is always very focused on creating a positive environment for them to achieve their top level. As the U-20s hit the ground running this fall, I know Tracey is full of energy to spearhead our YNT’s return to play with this important age group.”

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The player pool that Kevins will coach in this U-20 cycle will feature many of the same players who were a part of the last U-17 cycle that saw the age group’s Concacaf qualifying and World Cup cancelled due to the pandemic. Players eligible for the last U-17 cycle were those born on or after January 1, 2003. The current U-20 cycle has an age cut-off of players born on or after January 1, 2002.

She also served as an assistant coach for the U-17 USWNT during the 2017-18 World Cup cycle, helping guide the team to a confederation championship and a berth to the 2018 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Uruguay. Kevins holds a U.S. Soccer “A” Coaching License and is currently working towards earning her U.S. Soccer Pro License.

“I’m thrilled to continue working with U.S. Soccer,” said Kevins. “I’m especially excited to continue working with this age group of players. After their Concacaf and World Cup tournaments were canceled last year, I can’t wait for the world to see what they can do and I’m excited to prepare them for international competition next year.”

Prior to joining the Federation, Kevins worked as an assistant coach with the NWSL’s Seattle Reign for a season and a half while also serving as Technical Director for the Reign Academy. She also spent time working in her native England as a coach for the England’s U-15, U-17, U-19 and U-20 National Teams from 2004-2013. During her time in England, Kevins led the Barnet FC Ladies first team from 2004-2013 and helped the club win the FA Women’s Premier League Cup in 2011.