Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Region: Kenya

Stefanie Golan

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Kenya

The 2019 season will mark Stefanie Golan’s eighth year at the helm of the Golden Gopher women’s soccer team. During her time as head coach, there has been consistent growth including an incredible 2018 season.

Golan led the Gophers to the 2018 Big Ten Tournament Title by running through the tournament without allowing a single goal after entering as the seventh-seed. With qualification secured for the NCAA Tournament, Minnesota upset Auburn 2-0 in the first round before falling to the UCLA Bruins in the second round of play.

In 2017, Golan reached 100 career victories in her young coaching career that has spanned just nine seasons. The Gophers finished in at least second place in the Big Ten for the second straight season with an 11-5-3 record. Golan helped Minnesota finish with three All-Big Ten players, which included Sydney Squires on the First Team. Golan led the Gophers to a second straight season of at least seven conference victories.

Prior to Minnesota, Coach Golan spent five and a half years at the United States Military Academy. She led the program to a 33-18-10 record in her three years as a head coach and second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in her final season in 2011. Two student-athletes were named to the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team while sophomore Molly McGuigan was named Patriot League Defender of the Year for the second season. Six student-athletes received All Patriot League honors and seven student-athletes received Patriot League Academic Honors.

In 2010, Golan received Patriot League Coach of the Year honors after going undefeated in the Patriot League and sharing the regular season title. The team led the nation in three defensive categories, two student-athletes were named to the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All Region Team, eight student-athletes received Patriot League Academic honors, freshman Molly McGuigan was named Patriot League Defender of the Year and freshman Kim An was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year.

Tony Sanneh

Tony Sanneh

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2010  –  Cyprus
  • 2012  –  Ethiopia
  • 2012  –  Malaysia
  • 2014  –  Bangladesh
  • 2014  –  Bolivia
  • 2018  –  Pakistan
  • 2019  –  Kenya
  • 2019  –  Bahrain
  • 2020  –  Virtual
  • 2022  –  Cote d'Ivoire

Among the most successful American soccer players of his generation, Tony Sanneh enjoyed an impressive 17-year professional soccer career. Major career highlights include starring in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, two Major League Soccer championships with D.C. United, and participation in the UEFA Champions League with Hertha Berlin during his six years in the German Bundesliga. Sanneh’s impact on American soccer was recognized by his selection to the Soccer America U.S. Men’s National Team “All-Decade Team,” and he was a finalist for the United States Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

At the height of his playing career, he created The Sanneh Foundation (TSF) to leverage sport’s unique potential to create positive social change for under-served youth through relationships. Since retiring from professional soccer in 2010 and becoming the organization’s full-time CEO, TSF has evolved into one of Minnesota’s leading youth development organizations by serving the holistic youth development needs of increasingly diverse Twin Cities Metro, Central and Southeastern Minnesota.

The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation recently recognized the organization’s work by awarding TSF their annual Sports Award, among the highest honors any organization in the field of health equity and community well-being can receive. The 2018 RWJF Sports award validates The Sanneh Foundation’s approach to creating a culture of community health by leveraging the universal appeal of sports to provide a range of holistic youth programs that address the social determinants that help diverse youth develop the skills to become productive adults

In addition to his executive leadership role with The Sanneh Foundation, Sanneh continues to serve the United States as a Sports Envoy on behalf of the SportsUnited Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.