U.S. Soccer established the NextGen College Soccer Committee (NCS) relationship
New York (June 10, 2025) – U.S. Soccer has formally established the NextGen College Soccer Committee (NCS), a group 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 and strengthen the proposal.
While this committee 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:
Dan Helfrich, U.S. Soccer Leadership Advisory Group member; Principal, Deloitte Consulting
Adrian Hanauer, Owner, Seattle Sounders FC; Governor, Seattle Reign FC
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
Chris Klein, Partner, Hometown Soccer Holdings; Former LA Galaxy President
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).
