ATLANTA (April 21, 2025) – U.S. Soccer has named Vanessa Mann as the new head coach for the U.S. Under-15 Girls’ National Team. Mann takes over from Ciara Crinion, who has transitioned to the head coach of the U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team.
“The Under-15 age group holds significant importance as it represents a pivotal stage in the development of our young female players on their path to the senior National Team,” said U.S. Soccer Head of Youth Women’s National Team Development Tracey Kevins. “Vanessa comes to us with a depth and breadth of experience, and we eagerly anticipate her continued growth as a top coach. We are confident that she will serve as an inspiring leader for our most promising young talents.”
As part of an integrated Women’s Youth National Team coaching staff headed by Kevins and guided by U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes, Mann will work across other age groups with a focus on her U-15 player pool.
“I’m honored to join U.S. Soccer at such an exciting time in our history and with such amazing resources being dedicated to our young players,” said Mann. “I’ve always felt that as coaches, it’s our responsibility to develop the person and the player, and I know that Tracey and Emma’s leadership is focused on that holistic approach as well. This age group represents such an important time in these players’ lives, and I’m looking forward to helping them navigate and grow towards achieving their soccer goals while preparing them to compete for spots in the U-17 World Cup and beyond.”
Katie Schoepfer, who led the USA to a 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup berth earlier this month during the Final Round of the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Qualifiers, will continue to head the U-17s until the end of this cycle. At that time, Crinion will then become the head coach for the U-17s for the 2026 U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Schoepfer will transition to the U-16s to prepare that group for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup as the tournament has now become an annual event.
Carrie Kveton is the current U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team head coach with full-time head coaching positions for the U.S. U-18 WNT, U.S. U-20 WNT and U.S. U-23 WNT likely being filled in the coming weeks, which will give U.S. Soccer seven full-time Girls’ and Women’s Youth National Team head coaches.
Mann comes to U.S. Soccer after serving as Director of Coaching for the Reno Apex Youth Soccer Club in Nevada, but she has extensive experience with U.S. Soccer as an assistant coach at the U-15 GNT level since the fall of 2023 and as a U-17 WNT assistant this year. She has also served as a scout for the USA’s YNTs since 2018.
She is a U.S. Soccer Coaching Educator for the “A” Senior Course, the Talent Scout course and Grassroots courses Mann has pursued her coaching education with a fervor. She holds a USSF “A” License, and a Talent Scout License. She also holds a United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching Diploma, a United Soccer Coaches National Diploma and USC Goalkeeper Level 1 & 2 Diplomas.
She has nine years of NCAA Division I coaching experience and also has National Women’s Soccer League coaching experience, serving as an assistant for the Utah Royals in 2024.
She played college soccer from 2007-2011 at the University of Nevada, Reno and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Ecology.
