Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Sport: Soccer

Lesle Gallimore

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2012  –  Morocco
  • 2016  –  Ethiopia
  • 2022  –  Israel

At Washington
• Started in 1994 at UW, completed her 22nd season with the Huskies – the longest tenure of any coach in the Pac-12
• Appeared in 14 NCAA tournaments, twice having advanced as far as the quarterfinals J(ELITE EIGHT)
• Won a Pac-10 Championship in 2000
• Coached Hope Solo and Tina Ellertson (Frimpong), both with ties to the U.S. WNT, as well as Kate Deines and Veronica Perez, with all four playing in the NWSL (Lindsay Elston and Kate Bennett now also)

Previous/Other Coaching Experience
• Four-time All-American at California (1982-85)
• Led the Golden Bears to the national playoffs three out of her four seasons
• Named the school’s 1976-86 Athlete of the Decade
• Served as an assistant at California from 1986 through 1989
• Helped the Golden Bears reach the NCAA soccer Final Four twice, in 1987 and 1988
• Obtained her United States Soccer Federation “A” License, the highest coaching license available, in 1993
• Member of U.S. Soccer National Coaching Instructor Staff
• Member of U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams Staff
• Vice President of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and will become President in 2018

Playing Career
• Four-time All-American at Cal from 1982-86
• 3 x Olympic Sports Festival Gold Medalist
• US National B Team
• Reached the Final Four in 1984
• Inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 19954
• Inducted into the California Women’s Soccer Inaugural Lair of Legends in 2015
• Named to the Pac-12 Conference All-Century Team Starting XI in 2015

Personal
• Native of Redondo Beach, Calif., currently lives in Seattle
• Has a 22 year-old son, Zachary, that is a Lance coporal in the U.S. Marine Corp, stationed in Okinawa, Japan married to Elhiany and has a 3-month old daughter, Leila June
• Graduate from California in 1986 with a degree in psychology

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.

Lauren Gregg

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2006  –  Nigeria
  • 2008  –  Nigeria
  • 2012  –  Argentina
  • 2016  –  China

A long-time assistant coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Lauren Gregg was a member of the coaching staff for the U.S. at the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China, the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sweden and the 1996 Olympic Games in the USA.
During her tenure as assistant coach, from 1989-2000, Gregg also served as U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team head coach, leading the team to Nordic Cup titles in the 1997 and 1999 editions of the tournament and second place in the 1998 Nordic Cup.

Prior to becoming an assistant coach with U.S. Soccer, Gregg led the University of Virginia to the NCAA Final Four in 1991 and seven straight NCAA tournaments, from 1988-94. Gregg was named NSCAA Coach of the Year in 1990 and was the first woman to lead a team to the NCAA Division I Final Four.

Gregg holds a U.S. Soccer “A” coaching license and earned one cap for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 1986.

Alex Morgan

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Tanzania

Alex Morgan is the current face and captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team. A blur on the pitch, Alex overwhelms
defenders with her graceful yet attacking style, scoring big goals and bringing fans to their feet. Alex is a proven winner at all levels. Businesswoman, author, social media phenom, marketing icon – she is all this and more, proof that Alex’s ability to inspire and excite fans stretches far beyond the pitch.

“Although we spent lots of time on the field playing, more importantly we spent a good amount talking about issues that girls and women face on a daily basis.”

Ashlyn Harris

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2016  –  Liberia

A two-time Goalkeeper of the Year (2011 in the WPS and 2016 in the NWSL), the Satellite Beach, FL native is a strong veteran presence for the USA—which will be a huge factor as the team navigates the physical and emotional waves that come with seeking a second straight World Cup title.

In addition to winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Ashlyn Harris played every minute as the USA won the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup. She was the youngest starter on the team at 16 years old, but one of the brightest stars. It was her saves that allowed the U.S. to prevail in overtime 1-0 over Canada to win the inaugural title. Harris was back with the U-19s two years later, playing every minute again as the U.S. finished third at the 2004 tournament in Thailand.

Harris took that international success with her to the college ranks where she won three NCAA Championships with the University of North Carolina in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Brandi Chastain

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2013  –  Brazil

U.S. National Team: A reserve forward during the first incarnation of her national team career, she earned 173 of her 192 caps primarily at defender from 1996-2004 … A consistent starter from 1996-2004, she became one of the best-known female athletes in the United States, and the world, after her 1999 Women’s World Cup heroics … Ended her career sixth on the all-time U.S. caps lists, but sits ninth in 2013 … 2004: Played in 20 matches, starting 13 … Didn’t play in the first three matches of the Olympics, but started and played the last three critical knockout games to help the USA win the gold medal … Had the assist on the first goal to Lindsay Tarpley in the Olympic gold medal match and helped set up Kristine Lilly’s goal against Germany in the semifinal … 2003: One of the most active players for the USA in 2003 before the Women’s World Cup, she broke a bone in her right foot in the first half of the first game of the tournament and missed the rest of the Women’s World Cup … Played in 14 matches overall in 2003, starting 13, spanning 1080 minutes, but just 45 minutes in the WWC … She had one goal and one assist, scoring on a penalty kick against Mexico at her hometown Spartan Stadium in the last match before the Women’s World Cup … Moved past Carla Overbeck and into sixth place on the U.S. all-time caps list … Her goal in 2003 was the 30th of her international career … 2002: Played in 15 matches for the USA, starting 14 and scored four goals … Three of her goals came from the penalty spot, one each in the three Nike U.S. Women’s Cup games … Was a member of the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup Team that qualified the USA for the 2003 Women’s World Cup … 2001: Played in three matches for the USA during a limited schedule for the national team … 2000: Played in 34 matches and started 32, tied for first on the team … Scored four goals with three assists, including a penalty kick to defeat Norway, 1-0, in the Algarve Cup Final … Also scored a brilliant goal off a free-kick against Japan in the Pacific Cup and a fantastic volley against Nigeria in the Olympics … Helped the USA to six tournament titles before the Olympics … 1999: Provided one of the greatest moments in the history of women’s sports with her 1999 Women’s World Cup-clinching penalty kick on the USA’s fifth shot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final on July 10, 1999 at the Rose Bowl … Graced the cover of Time, Newsweek, People, and Sports Illustrated after she peeled her jersey off in celebration following her winning kick … Had one of the most eventful games in Women’s World Cup history, scoring an own goal against Germany in just the fifth minute of the USA’s Women’s World Cup quarterfinal match, then gloriously redeeming herself with a second half goal that tied the game at 2 2 … Named to the 1999 Women’s World Cup All Star Team … Played in 27 games for the USA in 1999, scoring five goals with five assists … Played in her 100th career game for the USA against Brazil in the semifinal of the Women’s World Cup at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, not far from her hometown of San Jose, Calif. … 1998: Was third on the team in minutes played with 1,894 … Scored five goals, four on penalty kicks, and had five assists … Saw considerable action in midfield after playing defense since rejoining the national team in 1996 … Helped the USA to the first ever Goodwill Games gold medal in the Summer of ’98 … 1996: Member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Team at the 1996 Olympic Games … Started and played every minute of the USA’s five matches at the ’96 Olympics, despite suffering a serious knee injury in the semifinal against Norway … Called into training camp with the national team in September 1995 after spending more than two years away from the program … A forward for her entire youth, college and national team career, she converted to defender and started in the back for the USA on January 14, 1996, against Russia in Brazil, after having not appeared for the WNT since August 8, 1993 … Made a seamless transition from striker to defender during the first part of 1996 and earned a starting spot on the Olympic Team … Pre-1993: Was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team that won the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in China in 1991, seeing action in two games, starting one … Holds the distinction of coming on as a substitute and scoring a record five consecutive goals in the USA’s 12 0 victory over Mexico in CONCACAF qualifying for the 1991 World Cup, her first international goals … Finished the CONCACAF tournament with seven goals … First Appearance: June 1, 1988, vs. Japan … First Goal: April 18, 1991, vs. Mexico (scored five goals).

Professional / Club: One of the WUSA’s founding players, she was allocated to her hometown San Jose CyberRays for the 2001 inaugural season … 2003: Played in 15 games, starting them all, but missed several games at the end of the season with a leg injury … Scored one goal with four assists and was named to the All-WUSA Second Team … Voted as a starter to the WUSA All-Star Team, and scored a goal in the game … 2002: Played in 18 matches for San Jose, playing forward at times, and scored four goals with three assists … Named to the All-WUSA Second Team … Voted as a starter on the WUSA North All-Star Team, receiving the most votes of any player … 2001: Led her club to the first-ever WUSA championship … A member of the All-WUSA First Team … Played in 19 regular season games for the CyberRays, scoring two goals with five assists … Etc.: Played professionally in Japan for Skiroki Serena in 1993, earning team MVP honors and was the only foreigner to be selected as one of the league’s top 11 players in 1993 … Played women’s club soccer for the Sacramento Storm, the 1997 Western Regional Champions.

College / High School: Finished her college career at Santa Clara University in 1990, leading the Broncos to two Final Four appearances … Was named a First Team NSCAA All American in 1990 and All Far West selection in 1989 … Attended the University of California Berkeley in 1986, earning Soccer America Freshman of the Year honors while partnering with U.S. teammate Joy Fawcett … Sat out the 1987 and 1988 college seasons after having anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery on both of her knees before transferring to Santa Clara for her final two seasons … Scored 32 goals and added eight assists in three college seasons … Attended Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, where she led the team to three straight state championships.

Personal: Full name is Brandi Denise Chastain … Always up for a pick-up game … Was a full-time assistant coach at Santa Clara for two seasons and then a volunteer assistant … Is married to Santa Clara head women’s soccer coach Jerry Smith … Earned a degree in Television and Communications at Santa Clara … Should be noted that in her years as a college player, Chastain never lost to Julie Foudy of Stanford … Named as one of People Magazine’s 25 Most Intriguing People of 1999 … Also #97 on Street & Smith’s 100 Most Powerful People in Sports for 1999 … Appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” before and after the ’99 Women’s World Cup and several times since … Threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium following the Women’s World Cup victory, and did so at Wrigley Field in 2001 … Appeared with FIFA President Sepp Blatter, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Pele at a New York City press conference in November of 2001 as FIFA announced the dedication of the 2002 World Cup … Enjoys reading, running with her dogs and playing scrabble on her computer (in which she is still undefeated and looking for a challenger) … Aspires to create a rap duo with LaKeysia Beene and tour the world … Also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, having BBQs and baking parties … Appeared on “Jeopardy!” in January of 2001, donating half her winnings to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund … Realized her childhood dream of playing professional soccer in Spartan Stadium (home of the CyberRays), where she was a NASL season ticket holder and grew to love soccer … Created a cheering section at CyberRays home games in honor of her late mother, Lark, because she was the greatest cheerleader in the world … … Participated in the preliminary draw for the 2006 World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany at the end of 2003 … Serving as the sideline reporter for ESPN’s MLS broadcasts during the 2005 season … A correspondent for Fox’s “NFL Under the Helmet” where she goes on the road to do features on NFL players … New hobby is sewing and knitting sewing and knitting which may yield a new line of goodies for women and men who aren’t afraid to be bold … Is now up to speed with the 21st century and got wireless Internet, but is still a big believer in hand-written letters.

Lorrie Fair

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2008  –  Morocco
  • 2010  –  Paraguay
  • 2012  –  Afghanistan
  • 2012  –  Venezuela
  • 2013  –  Iraq
  • 2014  –  Burma
  • 2016  –  Nepal
  • 2018  –  Pakistan
  • 2020  –  Virtual
  • 2022  –  Cote d'Ivoire

As an undergraduate student at Carolina, Lorrie Fair Allen helped the women’s soccer team to national championships in 1996, 1997 and 1999. During the same period of time, Allen was succeeding on the field globally, becoming a FIFA World Cup champion and an Olympic silver medalist in 2000.

These days, Allen, a mother of two boys under the age of five, works as a program director for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and volunteers as a sports envoy for the U.S. Department of State.

Her dual passion of soccer and advocacy began to take root when she arrived at Chapel Hill. The women’s soccer program is special, and one of coach Anson Dorrance’s goals is to build leaders, Allen said in a 2018 interview. “His biggest hope is that that extends beyond the soccer field.”

As a State Department sports envoy since 2008, Allen works to support the embassies’ diplomatic missions abroad by connecting with people from diverse cultures using a shared love for soccer. Allen also led a six-month expedition beginning in London and ending in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup as part of the organization, Kickabout, which she co-founded and self-funded.

At the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, Allen spearheads the foundation’s grantmaking. She seeks out and identifies community-based organizations in Southern Africa that engage young people to keep themselves and their peers safe from HIV and helps them apply for grants to support them in accomplishing their goals.

In 2016, Allen became a Carolina student once again, pursuing an online master’s degree in public administration through the School of Government.

Danielle Slaton

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2010  –  Paraguay
  • 2012  –  Malaysia
  • 2012  –  Burma
  • 2014  –  Jordan
  • 2021  –  Jordan

Danielle Slaton currently works as the Director of the Coaching for Life Academy at Santa Clara University where she teaches coaches, athletes, and parents about how to integrate life skills development through sports. She is also a sideline reporter for the San Jose Earthquakes and a women’s soccer analyst for NBC, Fox Sports, and the Pac-12 Networks.

Danielle was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2000-2005, winning a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics and a bronze in the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She attended Santa Clara University where she captained the women’s soccer team to the 2001 NCAA National Championship. After she retired from playing, Danielle coached soccer at Northwestern from 2006-2009, where she also earned her Master’s Degree in Sports Administration.

Danielle is passionate about continuing to grow the game of soccer and teaching life lessons through sports. She serves as an advisor to U.S. Soccer’s Athlete Council, travels as a sports envoy on behalf of the U.S. State Department coaching youth about the life lessons that soccer can teach, and is a certified Positive Coaching Alliance trainer.

Lisa Berg

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2016  –  Venezuela
  • 2017  –  Vietnam
  • 2019  –  Burma
  • 2019  –  Kuwait
  • 2022  –  Cameroon

Lisa Berg is currently a US Soccer Scout for the US Women’s Youth National Teams and she is coaching with Club Atlético Zacatepec and Academia Satélite Futsat in Mexico City, Mexico. She is on staff at the state and regional levels of the Olympic Development Program and she instructs coaching courses for the USSF and FUFA. She was the Technical Advisor for Uganda’s Women’s National Football Team from 2011-2016, coaching the senior women’s Ugandan national football team against Egypt and DR Congo in 2012 and the U20 squad against South Sudan in 2014. She has served as an assistant women’s soccer coach at Bethel University (DIV III), Arkansas State University (DIV I), and University of MN (DIV I). She has the USSF A Coaching License, a M.S. in Exercise and Sport Psychology (Texas Tech University), and a B.S. in Kinesiology (University of Minnesota). She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist of the NSCA and has the Level 3 Goalkeeping Diploma from the NSCAA. She played NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Minnesota.

Together with the head coach of the Ugandan Women’s National Team, she co-founded Growing the Game for Girls in 2010. G3 has educated over 1,000 coaches and empowered over 10,000 girls through out all parts of Uganda and different parts of Africa. Earlier this year, she created the Leadership Experience Retreat in Mexico to empower girls to take up roles in leadership and use soccer as a platform to transform their community. In 2018, she partnered with the Fare Network to bring coaching education to schools of girls with hearing disabilities and physical disabilities in Uganda. In 2016, she spoke at the Girl Power in Play Women’s World Cup Symposium in Ottawa, Canada and attended the 2016 FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Symposium in Zurich, Switzerland. Berg has been trained by UN Women and Valencia CF on sustainable practices for sport for development and ways to empower women through football programs. She has been a part of the espnW GSMP, SportUnited funded programs in Uganda with the International Sport Connection, and the Brazil soccer visitor exchange. She was an Envoy to Venezuela in 2016 and Vietnam in 2017.

She has the USSF A Coaching License, a M.S. in Exercise and Sport Psychology (Texas Tech University), and a B.S. in Kinesiology (University of Minnesota). She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist of the NSCA and has the Level 3 Goalkeeping Diploma from the NSCAA. She played NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Minnesota.

Together with the head coach of the Ugandan Women’s National Team, she co-founded Growing the Game for Girls in 2010. G3 has educated over 1,000 coaches and empowered over 10,000 girls through out all parts of Uganda and different parts of Africa. Earlier this year, she created the Leadership Experience Retreat in Mexico to empower girls to take up roles in leadership and use soccer as a platform to transform their community. In 2018, she partnered with the Fare Network to bring coaching education to schools of girls with hearing disabilities and physical disabilities in Uganda. In 2016, she spoke at the Girl Power in Play Women’s World Cup Symposium in Ottawa, Canada and attended the 2016 FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Symposium in Zurich, Switzerland. Berg has been trained by UN Women and Valencia CF on sustainable practices for sport for development and ways to empower women through football programs.

She has been a part of the espnW GSMP, SportUnited funded programs in Uganda with the International Sport Connection, and the Brazil soccer visitor exchange. She was an Envoy to Venezuela in 2016 and Vietnam in 2017.

Staci Wilson

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2014  –  Peru
  • 2016  –  Senegal
  • 2018  –  Niger
  • 2019  –  Nigeria
  • 2019  –  Ethiopia
  • 2022  –  Cameroon

Staci Wilson – former professional soccer player with extensive experience training athletes, teams and coaches. An NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach, she holds a US Soccer B Coaching License, and has teaching certifications in yoga and Pilates. She played professional soccer for the Carolina Courage and on the 1996 USWNT that won the first ever Olympic Gold Medal for Women’s Football. Currently Wilson coaches youth, high school in south Florida and has a soccer consulting business. She devotes free time to giving back to the sport through charitable organizations that target females and underserved communities.