Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Sport: Soccer

Eddie Lewis

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2015  –  Indonesia

Eddie Lewis is a retired professional left-side midfielder soccer player. Before playing professionally, Lewis played for UCLA Bruins and in 1995, scored 11 goals and 10 assists, finishing his Bruin career with 30 goals and 28 assists. Lewis started his soccer career with San Jose in MLS before moving to England in 2000. He stayed in English soccer until he returned to MLS with the LA Galaxy in 2008.

He played professionally for 14 years playing as a left midfielder for club and for the US in the World Cup. He played in 11 of 18 qualifying games for the 2006 World Cup, scoring 2 goals and registering 2 assists.

Cobi Jones

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2014  –  Burma
  • 2014  –  Brazil
  • 2015  –  Tonga
  • 2015  –  Fiji
  • 2021  –  Virtual
  • 2024  –  Greece

Cobi Jones is a Southern California sports legend, maintaining the title of the longest standing member of the LA Galaxy dynasty. LA’s “Original Cobi,” spent 15 seasons with the Galaxy, as both a player and coach from 1996 – 2010. A 2011 US Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, Cobi is a two-time MLS Cup winner (2002, 2005) with a storied international career with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team. A permanent fixture with the team from 1992- 2004, he played in three World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002) and has the most international appearances for the Men’s side with 164 caps. He is also a 1992 Olympian. Prior to his MLS career, Cobi played overseas with Coventry City (English Premier League) and the Brazilian side, Vasco de Gama.

Today, Cobi is one of the sport’s preeminent broadcasters working with FOX Sports, where he was part of both the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup broadcast teams, both as a game analyst (2018) and co-hosting World Cup Tonight (2018-2019). He is the lead English language analyst for Fox’s coverage of Liga MX, Mexico’s top professional soccer league. He has also covered the Bundesliga, US Men’s National Team games, CONCACAF Champions League, the Gold Cup, and various FIFA tournaments for Fox. Cobi has been in the booth as the color commentator calling the LA Galaxy matches since 2012 for Spectrum SportsNet (formerly Time Warner Cable), Pac-12 Network, BeIn Sports, Next VR and he was also part of the 2012 NBC Olympic coverage.

A UCLA Hall of Famer and 1990 NCAA Champion with the Bruins, Cobi works closely with the LA2028 Olympic Committee, The Rose Bowl Institute, the LA84 Foundation, Cal South, AYSO, the US Soccer Foundation, and others. He represented the White House as part of the Presidential Delegation, attending both the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final in Canada and the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup Final in Brazil. He is also consistently part of the US State Department’s Sports Envoy.

In the Fall of 2020, it was announced that Cobi joined the esteemed ranks as one of the founding investor owners of the NWSL’s newest team, Angel City FC, brining women’s professional soccer to Los Angeles. Cobi joins sports greats Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Serena Williams, actresses Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner, America Ferrara and other notable names as part of the ownership group that is moving the needle for parity and equality in sports.

In an effort to work toward racial equality, improve the gender pay gap and continue to help elevate American soccer on a global level, Cobi will work with US Soccer and the US Soccer Foundation to bring his passion and commitment to the beautiful game to another level.

Tracy Noonan

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2011  –  Guatemala
  • 2013  –  Costa Rica
  • 2014  –  Tonga
  • 2016  –  Fiji
  • 2016  –  Nepal

A potent combination of talent and tenacity carried Tracy Noonan (formerly Ducar) to the top of the women’s soccer world. Her list of accomplishments includes a 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship with the United States women’s national team and three NCAA championships with the powerhouse North Carolina Tar Heels. She also was a founding member of the Women’s United Soccer Association, backstopping a Boston Breakers team that included USA and international stars Kristine Lilly, Kate Sobrero Markgraf, Maren Meinert (Germany) and Dagny Mellgren (Norway).

Not bad for a player whose career was almost derailed by a broken back suffered during a high school basketball game.

Since retiring as an active player, Tracy has devoted herself to teaching and coaching, and was head soccer coach at Greensboro College in Greensboro, NC before deciding to devote herself full-time to Dynasty Goalkeeping.

Career Highlights:
3-time NCAA champion at the University of North Carolina (1991-95)
U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper (1996-99)
Alternate on the 1996 U.S. Women’s Olympic Soccer Team
1999 Women’s World Cup Team
Founding member of the WUSA and goalkeeper for the Boston Breakers (2001-03)
Winner of the Boston Breakers Shield Award (2001)
Member of the New England Women’s Sports Hall of Fame (inducted 2001)
Goalkeeper coach at UNC-Greensboro (1998-99)
Head Soccer Coach at Greensboro College (2004-05)

Tisha Hoch

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2020  –  Turkey

-4 time National Champion at The University of North Carolina
-4 time All American
– Herman Trophy winner in 1994
– 1995 World Cup 3rd place
-1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
-1999 World Cup Champion
-2001 WUSA Champion with San Jose CyberRays
-2010 Founder of TeamFirst Soccer Academy
-2020 Investor of NWSL team
“Angel City Football Club”in Los Angeles
-Mother of Cooper (16) and Sadie (13)
Tisha Venturini-Hoch is a former American soccer player. She won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and won the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Before beginning her professional career, Hoch attended the University of North Carolina and played for the women’s soccer team. As a member of the soccer team, she was NCAA Champion in ’91, ’92, ’93, and ’94. In 1995, she won the Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top soccer player. She played professionally in the W-League for San Jose CyberRays, Delaware Genies, and Bay Area CyberRays.

She is the only athlete in any sport to ever hold five titles as: Collegiate Champion at UNC, four-time NCAA National Champion at UNC, World Cup Champion in 1999, Olympic Gold Medalist in 1996, and Professional Champion at Bay Area CyberRays in 2001.

Tina Ellertson

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2014  –  Guatemala

Christina “Tina” Ellertson is an American former professional soccer defender and member of the US women’s national soccer team. She attended University of Washington and competed in soccer, becoming one of UW’s most respected forwards. She was named Pacific-10 Conference co-player of the year in 2003 and in 2004, was named player of the year.

Ellertson was one of three players drafted for Saint Louis Athletica in September 2008. Ellertson was consistently present in the Athletica black line, playing 1748 minutes during the season, the most of anyone on the team. She made the All-Star team and was nominated for WPS’s Defender of the Year award.

In 2013, she was chosen in the first round of the National Women’s soccer league’s supplemental draft by Portland Thorns FC despite saying that she would no longer play in the league. She made five appearances for the Thorns before in 2014 announcing her retirement to focus on coaching and on her family.

Ellertson tried out for the women’s national soccer team and earned her first cap against Ukraine in 2005 before the new coach moved her to defender. She was named to the U.S. roster for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and competed against Nigeria and against Brazil.

Monica Gonzalez

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2015  –  Guatemala

Monica Gonzalez has not only captained Mexican national women’s team and founded Gonzo Soccer Peace Foundation, but she’s worked the sideline as a reporter for ESPN, is a commentator and analyst for FOX Deportes and sits on the Advisory Board for FIFPro, the World Players Union. As if this wasn’t enough, she’s joining us in a climb of a lifetime, up Mt. Kilimanjaro in June to break a soccer world record.

“I think I may be from the last great generation of street rats. It’s sad our world has become more dangerous over time and kids now don’t get to spend as much quality time together. My dad played soccer for the US Men’s national team in the 1972 Munich Olympics so he had a ball at my feet since before I can remember and even lied about my age to get me in the boys’ league when I was 4.

When I was 13, I learned that playing soccer could get me a college scholarship and from then on, it was my goal and soccer became my job. But now there is a mad race for college scholarships – women’s soccer in the United States is becoming much more exclusive and girls in underserved communities are missing out on the chance to play.”

Marian Dalmy

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2012  –  Morocco

Marian Dougherty (Dalmy) is a former professional soccer defender. She last played for Portland Thorns FC and was on the US women’s national soccer team. In high school, she was captain of her soccer team for 3 years and earned MVP honors in 2001. She was named 2003 Parade Magazine HS All-American and was a two-time NSCAA/Adidas All-American.

Dalmy attended Santa Clara University. As a freshman, she scored six goals and served two assists for 14 points while playing as a forward and midfielder. She started in 14 out of 17 matches during that season. In 2005, as a junior, she was named team captain and earned All-American honorable mentions from Soccer Times and Soccer Buzz magazines and was named second-team All-West Region by Soccer Buzz.

In 2007, she played on the US senior team before being named as a late addition to the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup roster.

Linda Hamilton

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2007  –  Philippines
  • 2010  –  Ivory Coast
  • 2011  –  Brazil
  • 2013  –  Chile
  • 2014  –  Bangladesh
  • 2015  –  Burma
  • 2016  –  China
  • 2019  –  Egypt

Linda Hamilton enters her fifth season as head coach of the Southwestern women’s soccer team, coming off a season in which she was named the SCAC Coach of the Year, leading the Pirates to the SCAC Championship match.

Hamilton brings a wealth of experience to the program, both as a player and coach. She played collegiately at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina, earning All-America status and all-conference honors all four years. She was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1988. Hamilton was a member of the United States National Team, where she played in 82 international matches. She helped the team to a World Cup gold medal in 1991 and bronze in 1995.

Hamilton, who owns a United States Soccer Federation “A” coaching license, got her start in coaching at Old Dominion University as the team’s head coach from 1993 to 1995. She later served as an assistant at Hofstra University (2006-2007) and most recently served as head coach at the University of North Florida (2007-2013). She has additionally worked with the Easter Seals and National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2002-2006), serving as director of development.

Estelle Johnson

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  Trinidad and Tobago

Estelle Johnson is a Cameroonian professional soccer player who plays for the Sky Blue FC and the Cameroon women’s national team. Prior to her joining Sky Blue, she played for Philadelphia Independence, Sydney FC (Australia’s W League) and Washington Spirit.

She earned all-conference first team honors as a freshman, sophomore, and junior and was named all-state during her junior and senior year. Johnson played for the University of Kansas Jayhawks from 2006-09. During her time at Kansas, she was named to the BIG 12 All-Newcomer Team and was picked for the Cal Invitational All-Tournament Team.

She was selected by the Los Angeles Sol during the 2010 WPS Draft but later signed on with Philadelphia Independence where she started 15 out of 17 games.

Erica Woda

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2020  –  Palestinian Territories

Erica Woda is a former Division One soccer player for Columbia University, the Athletic Director of KIPP NYC College Prep, and is currently the new Athletic Director at Potomac School. In 2008, she founded the NGO “Level the Field” which focuses on athletic and educational mentorship between underprivileged student from NY and student athletes from top U.S. universities.