McDermott hired as GM for Chicago's pro women's soccer team

Marcia McDermott has been hired as the first general manager of Chicago's new professional women's soccer team, club President and CEO Peter Wilt announced today.

McDermott, who served as the first coach of the WUSA's Carolina Courage and started the women's soccer program at Northwestern University as its first head coach in 1994 will be involved in another women's soccer start up with the 2009 launch of Chicago's first professional women's soccer team.

"I am excited to be returning to Chicago and to professional women's soccer. This league is a critical piece in the development of our sport and I am particularly thrilled to be working for such an ambitious and impressive organization. I look forward to working hard to help create an entertaining and successful professional soccer franchise," McDermott said.

As a player, McDermott captured three NCAA titles at the University of North Carolina including 1986 when she was named an NCAA All-American and served as a team captain. She wore the United States national team colors seven times and has the fifth best strike rate among US players with seven or more caps.

In addition to overseeing the hiring of the team's head coach, McDermott will work with Wilt to assemble and lead the franchise's front office staff.

"Marcia has terrific experience in sales leadership as well as soccer leadership," Wilt said. "I could not have asked for a better person to join me in our efforts to make this franchise the premier women's professional soccer organization in the world."

McDermott currently serves as a vice president on the Executive Committee of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and will be the President of that organization in 2010. She has also served on the board of non-profit Chicago SCORES, which helps urban children by using writing, community service and soccer as tools to better their lives.

Chicago Professional Women's Soccer became a charter member of the new women's professional soccer league on Sept. 4, 2007. Chicago 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.

More information on Chicago Professional Women's Soccer: www.chicagoprowomenssoccer.com