Bay FC has endured a rebuild during its third year of existence, and the club has found an experienced hand to guide it as it tries to become one of the premier NWSL clubs.
Paul Green was the head of women’s football for Chelsea FC Women when the club claimed 19 trophies, eight league titles and six Women’s FA Cups. Bay FC announced he will become the club’s new Chief Football Officer. His appointment fills a hole the team has felt since the middle of its inaugural season, when the club’s first general manager, Lucy Rushton, left the club.
“Paul is an exceptional football leader whose experience, standards and understanding of what it takes to build a winning environment will be invaluable to Bay FC,” said Kay Cossington, CEO of Bay Collective. “He has been part of sustained success and understands how to bring together recruitment, player development, performance and culture in service of a clear football vision. Paul will be a key partner for Emma as we shape a roster that maximizes her strengths as a coach, reflects the way we want Bay FC to play, and gives us the foundation to build a championship-caliber team.”
Green will lead Bay FC’s technical side, including managing all club football operations staff and serving as the point person for building the roster.
“What attracted me to this club was the ambition, the vision, and the opportunity to help shape its next chapter,” said Green. “The foundations here are solid, and we have a tremendous opportunity to develop something special and build a team that the Bay Area and our fans can be proud of.”
Bay FC came out of the gates showcasing its ambition in its first season, spending large sums to acquire well-known players like Asisat Oshola, Racheal Kundananji, and Deyna Castellanos.
After making the playoffs in their first season, the team regressed in its second season under coach Albertin Montoya, and he was dismissed before the end of the year. Last offseason, Bay FC hired Emma Coates as head coach from England and brought in many new, young players. The team has been a work in progress in its third season, with Coates trying to lay the foundation for future success.
Now Coates will have another experienced soccer executive from England to work with as the club continues to build its roster heading into its fourth season.
“I think what we are building here is really special,” said Coates, noting the English influence on the club’s leadership. “We’re really conscious to keep that American culture, lean into that identity, but add some of the things that we’ve learned through our experience in England, with the FA English Football Association), the WSL (Women’s Super League), and bring the best of both worlds together.”
The club stated in its press release that Coates and Green will work closely together, with Green focusing on bringing in new talent and constructing the roster as a whole while Coates continues to build the team culture on and off the field and develop some of the young talented players the club already has.
“The foundations are really strong, and I think the team just needs a little bit more experience to complement the talented young group of players that we’ve got,” explained Green. “I think if we can make those additions to the roster, then we’ll be a strong side to get up the table and start looking at attacking the playoffs and getting in the top echelons of the league.”
