ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2023) — The Orlando Pride has announced Haley Carter as the club’s Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager, a newly-created and elevated executive leadership role within the organization.
Reporting directly to Club ownership, Carter will oversee all elements of Pride Soccer Operations, including the coaching staff, scouting and analytics department, sports performance and nutrition, and player care.
“When we began our search for this key role for the Orlando Pride, we were looking for someone with deep and comprehensive knowledge of the women’s game and the leadership qualities to carry our organization into its next era.” Orlando Pride Chairman Mark Wilf said. “Haley is a strong, experienced and respected leader with a vast background and network across women’s soccer, including an extensive knowledge of the NWSL. Off the field, she has a clear dedication to service, community and player safety. After our conversations with Haley and feedback from our players, we believe Haley is the perfect leader for us and we look forward to supporting her in building the Pride into a world-class franchise.”
“I am honored and grateful to join the Orlando Pride. The change-making leadership and committed, personal investment by the Wilf Family to the success of the club made this a tremendous opportunity from the outset,” Carter said. “Our roster is composed of awe-inspiring, gifted athletes, each bringing their own unique and vital qualities to the team. We also have an extremely talented technical, medical, and support staff. Together, we will take the Pride to new heights, further crafting an inclusive, safe, winning culture, making fans proud to support us and players proud to play for us. We’re going to be in the community, we’re going to grow the game, and we’re going to bring championships home to Orlando! I am thrilled to lead our players and staff as we embark upon a new and exciting evolution for the club.”
Carter is a retired professional soccer player, business executive, coach, licensed attorney, and former U.S. Marine officer. A certified professional football scout, Carter holds Level I and II Talent Identification certification through the Professional Football Scouts Association, and serves as Chair of the Women’s Coaches Community for United Soccer Coaches, honored with the organization’s President’s Award in both 2019 and 2022 and a Certificate of Appreciation in 2023.
While serving on active duty in the Marine Corps, Carter represented the United States in two International Military Sports Council Women’s Military World Soccer Championships. Following active duty, she spent three seasons as a goalkeeper with the Houston Dash and, in her final professional season, was the first-ever women’s player recognized with the FIFPro World Players’ Union Merit Award.
Since retiring from professional play, Carter has coached at multiple levels including youth, collegiate and international soccer. Most notably, she served as an Assistant Coach for the Afghanistan Women’s National Team and as a goalkeeper coach for the Antigua and Barbuda Women’s National Team. The Texas native also had assistant coaching stints at Huston-Tillotson University, Sam Houston State, and the University of Houston.
Following her playing career, Carter returned to the Dash, serving as a consultant for the club’s scouting and recruitment in 2019.
Off the field, Carter is passionate and active in social and women’s equity causes. In 2021, Carter was critical in evacuating over 100 people from Kabul, Afghanistan, including members and families of the national team she coached, who were at-risk due to the Taliban takeover. Carter has also sat on the Executive Board for the Girls Academy League, the City of Houston Women’s Commission, and chaired the City of Houston Commission to End Gun Violence.
At the collegiate level, Carter played for the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with honors in 2006. After earning her commission, Carter served nearly eight years as a Marine Corps Logistics Officer, making two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to her degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, Carter owns an MBA with Distinction from the University of Liverpool and Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Houston Law Center.
