Twila Kilgore, who served as interim coach of the U.S. women's national team for nearly nine months before the arrival of head coach Emma Hayes in May, has left U.S. Soccer “to pursue other coaching opportunities,” the federation said Tuesday.
Kilgore’s tenure as interim coach and her collaboration with Hayes prior to the head coach’s arrival were crucial to the U.S. women’s national team winning the 2024 Olympic gold medal. She stayed on as an assistant coach after Hayes assumed the head coaching role.
“Twila found herself in a difficult situation when she took over after the World Cup,” Hayes said in a statement.
“Her contributions to our team were invaluable. I am a huge advocate for female coaching opportunities and we need more female coaches like Twila in the United States. She is a role model for many other women following her path and whoever her next team is, she will have an excellent coach and an excellent human being.”
US Soccer did not specify where Kilgore's next coaching opportunity would be.
Kilgore oversaw the USWNT for 14 games from August 2023 to May 2024, the longest interim stint in program history.
Kilgore led the team to victory at the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup in March. Kilgore took over as interim coach following the U.S. women's team's worst finish at a major tournament.
The Americans were eliminated from the 2023 World Cup in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout loss to Sweden.
Former coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned and Kilgore, who was an assistant under Andonovski, took over.
Hayes was signed by U.S. Soccer in November 2023 but negotiated to finish the European season with England's Chelsea, meaning Hayes only arrived on the USWNT sidelines less than two months before the start of the Olympics.
Kilgore and Hayes met frequently by phone and in person to collaborate on decisions during the interim period. Hayes then took over for four games before the Olympics, and the U.S. women’s team won all six games to earn its first gold medal since 2012.
“I am grateful for the opportunities, trust and support I have received from the leadership, staff, players and fans over the past three years,” Kilgore said in a statement. “Being a part of this historic program as an assistant and interim head coach has been a privilege and a rewarding experience.
“What this group has achieved during a period of transition is a testament to everyone involved and I believe is an indication that success will continue in the future. I am not only leaving with a gold medal, but also with incredible experiences, meaningful relationships and new ambitions.”
There are several head coaching and general manager openings in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where Kilgore has experience.
She served as an assistant coach for the Houston Dash for nearly three years.
Kilgore was the first American-born woman to earn a US Soccer Pro license, the country's highest coaching badge.
She also holds a UEFA “A” coaching license. Prior to her time in the NWSL and with the U.S. senior national team, Kilgore worked extensively with U.S. youth national teams. Houston is without a general manager after firing Alex Singer in July and has been without head coach Fran Alonso for nearly three months.
Alonso was initially listed as ill and has since been described as being on personal leave, with no further information given.
Erik Ustruck is serving as an advisor to facilitate roster changes, ESPN previously reported. San Diego Wave FC has also been without a head coach since firing Casey Stoney in June.
Expansion team Utah Royals FC has been operating with interim coach Jimmy Coenraets in charge since the firing of Amy Rodriguez in late June.
San Diego, Houston and Utah are the last three teams in the NWSL table.
Bay FC, another expansion club, has been without an official general manager since June, when Lucy Rushton resigned. Following Rushton's resignation, Matt Potter was promoted to “interim director of football and sporting director.”
