Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Sport: Soccer

Jennifer Ruiz Williams

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Colombia

Jennifer Ruiz Williams is the current head coach at UNLV in Las Vegas, NV & has a United States Soccer ‘A’ License. Prior to coaching, she competed in the NWSL with Reign FC. From the age of 19 to 33, Ruiz Williams played with the Mexican National Team. She competed in the 2015 World Cup, earned three Pan American Games medals, qualified for the Olympics, & played in several other international games & tournaments. Ruiz Williams has also spent time with CBS Sports as a TV analyst. She is a Teach for America alumna with an MA from Loyola Marymount and a BA from UNLV, where she played collegiately.

Christina Murillo

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Montenegro
  • 2023  –  Colombia

Christina Murillo Sanchez is currently a Director for Chicago Fire FC and oversees 13u-15U age groups as well as being an Olympic Development Coach. She supports the Chicago community in her role through fundraising and outreach efforts that support with creating more opportunities. She previously was signed to Chicago Red Stars back in 2018 and in 2017 competed in Champions League with Gintra Universitetas getting to the round of 16. She represented the Mexican National Soccer Team from 2009-2018 and participated in the World Cup at the U17, U20, and Senior Level receiving 46 caps with the senior national team . Murillo was one of the first women to be part of the FIFA video game back in 2015. At University of Michigan, she competed with the team from 2011 to 2015 while taking off the 2014 season to train and compete at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was captain of the University of Michigan and made the all-Big Ten Tournament team her senior year. Murillo currently holds the record for most assists in a game at her university and was the first student athlete from Michigan to participate in a FIFA World Cup at the senior level.

Bonnie Young

Soccer

Served as envoy

Bonnie currently coaches in USYS ODP program with the Midwest and West regions, the Colorado Select program, and Elevation soccer club.

Young had been the director of the FC Boulder girls academy since January, 2018 and has previous experience playing professional soccer.
Young has more than 17 years of experience in coaching and club leadership across all levels, from recreational soccer through women’s professional soccer with the Chicago Red Stars and the Washington Spirit.

Jennifer Grubb

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Greece

Jennifer is the owner and primary therapist at Cairn Consulting, LLC. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor who is passionate about helping two groups in particular: athletes who are facing the next level in the sport, addressing injury, or transitioning away from sport; and members of the LGBTQIA+ community who want to live into their authentic selves.

Additionally, Jennifer is a former professional soccer player who has represented her sport on both a national and international level during her nearly 20-year competitive career. Some of Jennifer’s notable accomplishments are:
● Representing the US Women’s National Team between 1995 and 1999
● Earning the title of “Iron Woman” for having played every minute of every game in a 3 year professional career
● Earning All-Star team selections in 2001, 2002, 2003 (WUSA)
● Becoming the first defensive 4-time All-American at the University of Notre Dame
● Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999
● 4-Time Big East Champion and 4-Time Big East All-Tournament Team

After retiring from her playing career, Jennifer pledged to continue sharing her love of sports by supporting athletes as they address the unique demands that athletes face, especially as they pursue goals and overcome barriers related to reaching the next level in their performance.

Off the field, Jennifer’s leadership experience includes starting a violence prevention program utilized in elementary and middle schools, previously sitting on the Board of Directors for an organization that provides direct programming for grieving children and their families, being trained as an instructor for Teen Mental Health First Aid, and being a spokesperson for a campaign that provides free community education in grit and resilience. She currently holds a position on the ARC ND (Alumni Rainbow Community of Notre Dame) board of directors, a group that is committed to inclusion of and equity for the LGBTQIA+ community at the University of Notre Dame.

Debra Belkin Rademacher

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Israel

Debbie Belkin Rademacher, was the head coach of the women’s soccer team at the University of Michigan from 1994-2007. From 1986-1991 she was a mainstay on the US women’s National Team, and was a key member of the 1991 U.S. team that won the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Championship. In August 2001, the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame awarded the 1991 U.S. Women’s World Cup champions, the prestigious National Soccer Medal of Honor.

In 2000, Soccer America named her to the Women’s College Soccer Team of the Century. She is a member of the Massachusetts State Hall of Fame, a member of the University of Massachusetts Athletic Hall of Fame, and a member of the National Jewish Hall of Fame.

An outstanding defender from 1984-1988, Rademacher was a three-time All-American at the University of Massachusetts, and led the team to four consecutive Final Four appearances. Named All-New England from 1985-1987, Rademacher helped the Minutewomen achieve a No. 1 ranking during the 1986 season and led them to the NCAA championship game in 1987. Named the Defensive MVP of the 1987 Final Four, Rademacher also received honors from Soccer America, who named her to its MVP teams in 1986 and 1987, and to the All-Decade team (1980s).

Over Rademacher’s four-year career at UMass, the Minutewomen had an overall record of 65-9-4. It was in 1986, during her junior season at Massachusetts, Rademacher joined the U.S. National Team.

In 1992, Rademacher became the head coach at Fairfield University after serving as an assistant at Tufts (1988), and New Hampshire (1989-91). After an record of 6-8-1 in her first season, Rademacher led Fairfield to a 12-4-3 record and the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) regular season and tournament championship in 1992 as she was named MAAC Coach of the Year. The following year, Rademacher became the head coach at the University of Michigan in the school’s inaugural season of NCAA women’s soccer.

Rademacher led Michigan to a second place regular season finish in 1997. They then won the conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the next nine years. Rademacher was named Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year that year. Michigan won the Big Ten tournament for a second time in 1999, and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2002. In 2003, the Wolverines advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. They finished the season ranked No. 16 in the country. Through her final season, in 2007, Rademacher amassed a career coaching record of 178-120-41.

Tara Koleski

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Greece

Tara Koleski is the current UWS FC Arizona Head Coach and FC Arizona Girls Director of Coaching.Koleski was the former Head Coach at Dominican University of California and former head coach for two seasons at NCAA DI UMBC and 3 seasons NCAA DII West Chester University.Tara was named the 2005 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Northeast Region Coach of the Year, the Southeast Pennsylvania Coaches Association (SEPCA) Women’s College Coach of the Year, and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Coach of the Year. Tara was the head coach of the semi-professional Rochester Reign of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and an assistant coach at Villanova University (2002).

As a player, Koleski competed at the NCAA DI level for University of Portland attending 2 final four tournaments awarded with honors for All-American, Offensive player of the year for WCC conference and team MVP. Koleski competed with the US U-21 National Team, and attended several US National Team pool camps. Koleski spent 2 season in the German Bundesliga for 1. FC Saarbrucken and was drafted in the 11th round to the first Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) professional league in the USA (2000-2003) playing for the San Diego Spirit and Philadelphia Charge.

Tara holds a USSF B license and NSCAA premier diploma.Tara has a Masters degree in Strategic Non-Profit Management from Harvard University, Certification in Entrepreneurship Essentials from Harvard University and a Masters Degree in Administrative Leadership from Northern Arizona University also with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from University of Portland.

Rodney Wallace

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Trinidad and Tobago

Rodney Wallace is a Bilingual Sports Analyst, Motivational Speaker, Entrepreneur and Retired Professional Soccer Player. Rodney has appeared on Fox Sports, Fox Deportes, US Soccer Federación and ESPN.

Born in Costa Rica, Rodney moved to the United States at age 9. He overcame all adversity to become a NCAA Champion, MLS Cup Champion, Comeback Player of the Year, Brasil Serie A Player, Liga Nos Player, and Costa Rican National Team Player in which he appeared at the highest level in 2018 FIFA World Cup. Rodney continues to give back the game that taught him so much through clinics and training local youth.

Maren McCrary

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Montenegro

Maren Hendershot McCrary is a retired professional soccer player, former Team Handball US National Team member, U.S. Soccer Federation Coach Educator, Olympic Development National Team Head Coach, U.S. Youth National Team Scout, elementary Physical Education teacher, and Color Commentator for NET broadcasting.

McCrary was a 2- time Division I All-American forward at Brigham Young University where she is still the school’s second all time leading scorer. During her time at BYU she was a 4-time all conference player and 2-time conference MVP She also won a national championship and MVP of the semi-pro W-league. After graduating, McCrary, was drafted to the Carolina Courage and then traded to the San Jose CyberRays and played professionally for three years in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA), the first professional women’s soccer league in the USA. After retiring from professional soccer, McCrary played Team Handball for the United States National Team. McCrary, who was inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame in 2010, has coached at the Division I, Division II and NAIA college levels and held multiple Technical Director and Director of Coaching roles in youth soccer. McCrary has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and holds a USSF “A” license. In her role as a Coach Educator she instructs, leads and mentors coaches in their coach development.

Coach Maren loves her multi-faceted work in soccer that allows her to have a positive influence in the game in various capacities. She feels extremely fortunate for the opportunities, experiences, education, and empowerment that soccer has provided to her and she hopes to continue to open doors and opportunities for other females by educating and empowering women and girls through the game of soccer.

Louise McGirt

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Benin

Louise McGirt is a French and American citizen who started her passion for soccer at the age of 3. She led her high school team at Chamblee with 22 goals and 12 assists as a junior. After leading Atlanta International School in scoring (12 goals) as a freshman. She captured the Soccer Bulldog Award in 2013 after an All-Star Game selection for 2 years running and a spot on the All-Region 6 AAAA team. She captained the Chamblee Charter team in 2014 and also helped club teams, Chiefs FC Elite 96 and the Georgia Olympic Development Program to a slew of championships, including three USYS Region III Premier League titles.

Jaimel Johnson

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Benin

Jaimel Johnson’s illustrious coaching career has allowed her the opportunity to interact with players on various levels of age, ability, and acumen over the last decade. Jaimel spent 4 years as an assistant coach at The University of Texas. During her tenure she was instrumental in helping both the Longhorns and former Utah Royals goalkeeper, Abby Smith, to a record 30 shutouts and a .82 goals against average. Before joining the UT staff, Jaimel spent 2 years at the University of Iowa as an assistant coach. Jaimel was drafted in the inaugural season of the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league to the Boston Breakers, and she was later traded to the Chicago Red Stars. Her professional career also boasts time with the Washington Freedom.

Not only a standout in the coaching arena, Ms. Johnson was a 3-year starter at the University of Tennessee where she was an NSCAA All-American and 3-time All-SEC First Team honoree. Jaimel made 4 consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament with the Volunteers, won 2 SEC Championship titles (one being a Triple Crown), and she still holds the record as the only Tennessee Lady Vol soccer player to receive the SEC Tournament MVP Award.

As a Lady Vol, Jaimel was nominated as the NCAA Woman of the Year and placed on the Herman Trophy Watch List. Jaimel played club and academy soccer with the Dayton Soccer Academy (DSA) and the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy. Recognized as one of the premier goalies during her playing days, Jaimel spent time with the US National Teams on the u17, u19, and u20 teams. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Sports Management with a minor in Business from the University of Tennessee.

Jaimel currently resides in the Atlanta area where she is president and CEO of “The Goal Standard”, her private goalkeeper training academy. Additionally, Jaimel is the ECNL goalkeeper’s coach at Concorde Fire Soccer Club in Atlanta. She serves as an assistant coach for field players, the goalkeepers coach for the entire club, and she also is responsible for directing the majority of the club’s fitness training. Jaimel places an emphasis on overall health and wellness for her players, and she dedicates much of her down time researching methods in which an athlete’s performance can be enhanced. When Jaimel is not on the soccer field she continues to work in the fitness arena as a personal trainer specializing in sports performance, weight loss, and weight gain.