The latest addition to the federation is Will Wilson, U.S. Soccer's new CEO, filling in a position that had been void for six months. Wilson, who joins from the agency Wasserman Media Group, will also serve as secretary general. He will start his role on March 30 and eventually relocate to Chicago, according to U.S. Soccer.
The decision to hire Wilson comes just after a week after Carlos Cordeiro stepped down as federation president. The backlash from U.S. Soccer's legal defense in its lawsuit with the USWNT players over equal pay was Cordeiro's final straw. Former vice president Cindy Parlow Cone took the president position on March 12.
Why did it take 6 months to replace a CEO?
Former U.S. Soccer commercial executive Jay Berhalter was the front-runner for the CEO position after Dan Flynn stepped down in September 2019. But Berhalter was hit with fire before leaving the U.S. Soccer Federation when reports about employee discontent surfaced.
Berhalter's exit in February left the federation no choice but to continue its wide external search for a new CEO. But the U.S. Soccer had no luck until now.
Most candidates were not interested in the position given the lawsuits the federation is currently fighting, including the equal pay battle with the Stars and Stripes.
More about U.S. Soccer CEO Will Wilson
Wilson has been a sports agent for most of his professional career and joins from Wasserman, a sports marketing and talent management company. There, he served as the Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Football for the last eight years.
Wilson helped launch Wasserman's NFL representation practice by signing Andrew Luck, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. The company is now one of the most competitive ones in the business representing over 100 players in the league.
The 52-year-old also spent time working with the MLS and SUM, where he managed all international business relationships, including FC Barcelona, Manchester United, the Concacaf Gold Cup, and the game partnership with the Mexican Football Federation. Wilson's group also oversaw important MLS events in the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup.
