Take a deep breath before you say my new job title, it’s a doozie. But thankfully it’s also a dream. Soccer exec. masterminds Peter Wilt and Marcia McDermott created a position for me in their their WPS franchise that fits my interests, background, personality and skills like a glove. I’m honored to be part of the team. Here’s the press release that went out yesterday.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
By: Chicago Red Stars
Jeff Roth and Amanda Vandervort named Marketing Directors
CHICAGO (July 1, 2008) – Veteran sports marketing executive Jeff Roth and women’s soccer coach and internet executive Amanda Vandervort have been named to head up the Chicago Red Stars marketing department, team General Manager Marcia McDermott announced today. [...]
Vandervort joins the Red Stars from San Francisco-based Coach-Smart.com where she served as Business Development Director. She also brings tremendous soccer background as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at New York University from 2003 to 2007.
“Amanda is a rising talent who has great experience in both soccer and online marketing. She will extend our reach and further enhance our ability to be the community’s team,” McDermott said.
At Coach-Smart, Vandervort was the first employee of the innovative online start-up company with three main intentions: to publish coaches as authors, to aid in effective team organization through online tools and to develop a social networking platform for the sports community. Her responsibilities included collecting content, designing the website structure, investigating current market trends and promoting the product within the sports community. Additional tasks included interviewing and hiring employees, developing print media and creating marketing strategies.
At NYU, Vandervort was responsible for planning, organizing, conducting and evaluating all aspects of the Division III women’s soccer program including recruiting, scheduling, traveling, fund raising, practice/game planning and coaching. She analyzed matches, prepared for opponents, purchased and monitored equipment, organized team travel and managed assistant coaches.
Vandervort’s efforts went beyond the soccer field at NYU as she also started an after-school program on the Lower East Side for disadvantaged youth, actively encouraged players to participate in community service and was awarded President’s Service Award for a Hurricane Katrina equipment drive.
The University of Wyoming graduate and former women’s soccer team captain has significant soccer experience including her current roles serving on the NSCAA Technology and Women’s Committees. She holds a USSF National “B” License and NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, awarded with distinction. Vandervort also is a Region 1 Senior Staff Coach and ODP, Director of Technology.
“Peter and Marcia have built a comprehensive vision to position Chicago Red Stars as an industry leader in Women’s Professional Soccer, and I’m excited for this opportunity to work with such a talented and driven group of people,” Vandervort said. “In my role, I’d like to positively touch as many soccer lives as possible through both the online experience at chicagoredstars.com and the Red Stars soccer camps. Chicago is an amazing city with a rich soccer culture that I’m proud to be part of,” Vandervort said.
Roth and Vandervort complete the team’s five department heads. McDermott previously named former Chicago Fire ticket sales manager Greg Zaskowski as Director of Ticket Sales, former Arsenal Ladies Academy Director and Assistant Coach as Head Coach and Director of Soccer Operations and former Chicago White Sox executive Amber Simons as Director of Community relations and Operations.
Red Stars President and CEO Peter Wilt praised the team’s directors. “As a group, this is an incredibly experienced, talented and passionate set of leaders. I am confident that under Marcia’s direction, they will fulfill the Red Stars mission to serve, entertain and succeed,” Wilt said.
Chicago Red Stars Soccer Club became a charter member of the WPS on September 4, 2007. Chicago, which has a unique partnership with the Illinois Women’s Soccer League, will be joined in the League by Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis and Washington. The league kicks off in Spring, 2009. The Chicago franchise will play its home games at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.
My blog, Soccer Science: The Neurotic Genius of Soccer in the Digital Age, takes a look at the new media technologies that are revolutionizing the way we see the beautiful game. I'm a web geek, former college coach, industry professional and sports fan. 
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations! Sorry the whole coffee/lunch thing didn’t work out but I hope you keep updating your blog even with the new fancypants title.
Well done! Sounds like Peter Wilt is putting together a first-class organization for the Red Stars (no surprise there). It’s very exciting to watch the birth of a new enterprise–best of luck in your new position!
Welcome to Chicago! We’re so lucky here at the Red Stars to have someone with your diverse talents and soccer interests. I’m sure glad to have you as my office-neighbor!
Good luck with everything. With you on board, maybe women’s soccer isn’t doomed after all. Speaking of women’s soccer, footsmoke.com just unveiled the first of hopefully many women-related pieces. If you want to stay in the know, you should probably check it out. It’s about America SCORES. I’m sure you guys are planning to involve them in Chicago. Definitely a good idea. A great way to stir up support in the community for both enterprises.