ATLANTA (June 10, 2025) – U.S. Soccer has formally established the NextGen College Soccer Committee (NCS), a group comprised of diverse and influential leaders from higher education, professional sports, philanthropic organizations and the business community. This initiative supports U.S. Soccer’s ongoing commitment to evolve and elevate all levels of soccer in the United States and underscores the Federation’s “in service to soccer” strategy.
The committee will aim to integrate the college game more deeply into the broader U.S. Soccer ecosystem, while ensuring it remains a strong, sustainable platform for student-athlete education, player development, and community engagement. The group’s work will consider both the men’s and women’s college games, recognizing that the models and solutions may differ between the two. Additionally, the committee will provide input on commercial strategies, improvements to student-athlete welfare, and broader collaboration opportunities with the NCAA and appropriate governing bodies of the sport.
The NCS Committee will focus on two primary outcomes:
- Publishing a white paper by the start of the 2025-26 academic year, outlining recommendations to position both men’s and women’s college soccer to thrive in the rapidly evolving soccer ecosystem
- Engaging conferences and college programs interested in exploring these innovative solutions and opportunities, targeting implementation beginning during the 2026–27 academic year
“College soccer is integral to the fabric and future of our sport in this country,” said U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson. “The individuals joining this group bring unique perspectives and expertise that will help us build a model where college soccer can thrive in a modern, connected system - all working collaboratively in service to soccer.”
The NCS Committee will formally engage other key stakeholders via insight groups - including college coaches and administrators, current and recent college players,U.S. Soccer members, and governing bodies such as the NCAA and USOPC- to provide feedback andstrengthen the proposal.
While thiscommittee will focus on the college game and appropriate connectivity with professional leagues,U.S. Soccer will also be working directly with a group of pre-professional youth members including ECNL / US Club, Girls Academy, MLS Next, USL Academy, and US Youth Soccer,to properly consider the development pathway and progression to college soccer, ensuring any proposed solutions reflect the full scope of the game in the U.S.
Committee Leadership and Composition
Dan Helfrich, a member of U.S. Soccer’s Leadership Advisory Group and former Chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP, will serve as NCS Committee Chair. He will guide the committee’s direction and impact.The initial group includes leaders with backgrounds in education, league and club leadership, sponsorship, and national governance.
The inaugural committee also includes former college players, parents of student-athletes, athletic directors, university presidents, and long-time advocates of the game, ensuring representation and insight from all corners of the college soccer environment. The members of this group are connected to more than seven NCAA Division I conferences, bringing a diverse, inclusive, and informed perspective to the table.
Members include:
| MEMBER |
POSITION |
| Dan Helfrich |
U.S. Soccer Leadership Advisory Group member; Principal, Deloitte Consulting |
| Adrian Hanauer |
Owner, Seattle Sounders FC; Governor,
|
| Ali Curtis |
Hermann Trophy Winner, Duke University; Senior Vice President, Major League Soccer |
| Amber Steele |
Vice President, Global Sports Partnerships, Coca-Cola; Atlanta Sports Council, Board Member |
| Angie Long |
Co-Owner, Kansas City Current; Former College Athlete, Princeton University |
| Chris Clunie |
Vice President & Director of Athletics, Davidson College |
| Craig Barry |
Executive Vice President & Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Discovery Sport |
| Darryll Pines |
President, University of Maryland |
| David Tyrie |
President of Marketing, Digital, and Specialized Consumer Client Solutions, Bank of America |
| Jeremy Alumbaugh |
President, USL Championship |
| John Wildhack |
Athletic Director, Syracuse University; Committee Member, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball |
| Mark Abbott |
Former President & Deputy Commissioner, Major League Soccer |
| Mike Cullina |
Chair, U.S. Soccer Technical Development Committee |
| Patrick Kraft |
Athletic Director, Penn State University |
| Richard Motzkin |
Executive Vice-President & Managing Executive of Global Soccer, Wasserman |
| Ryan Nelsen |
High-performance specialist, FIFA; Former College Player, Stanford University |
| Sarah Jones Simmer |
Chief Operating Officer, National Women’s Soccer League |
Looking Ahead
U.S. Soccer, in collaboration with the NextGen College Soccer Committee, will work toward drafting an initial white paper by the end of the summer, incorporating input from key stakeholders across the soccer ecosystem. In parallel, U.S. Soccer will begin outreach to college programs and conferences to better understand their goals and interest in participating in the new opportunities or model(s).
About the U.S. Soccer Federation
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official governing body of the sport in the United States. Our vision is clear; we exist in service to soccer. Our ambition, working across the soccer ecosystem, is to ignite a national passion for the game. We believe soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good. We are focused on three areas: Soccer Everywhere, ensuring everyone, everywhere experiences the joy of soccer; Soccer Success, our 27 National Teams and Pro Leagues winning on the world stage; and Soccer Investment, maximizing and diversifying investments to sustainably grow the game at all levels. For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.
