Photo via Utah Royals
The Utah Royals have appointed Amy Rodriguez as head coach to lead the expansion side in its inaugural 2024 season, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle. The Royals are rejoining the National Women’s Soccer League after initially forming in late 2017 and folding three years later.
Rodriguez played for the previous rendition of the Royals for all three years it existed, serving as captain for part of that time. Rodriguez’s playing resumé also boasts winning the 2015 World Cup with the U.S. women’s national team as well as winning gold in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
The former player retired in 2021 and moved on to serve as an assistant coach for her alma mater, the University of Southern California, for the past two seasons. Rodriguez admitted in her interview with ESPN that she questioned her own deservedness of the role due to her lack of experience. She is currently in the process of earning her U.S. Soccer A-level senior coaching license. Rodriguez earned her B-license through the 2021-22…
