Edition #40
June 10, 2026
Welcome to The W Profile, a study of the women leading at the intersection of sports, media, and global business. As college athletics adopts professional structures, it is instructive to look to the visionaries who have already mastered the complexities of the corporate world. By bringing C-Suite lessons to the athletics community, this series will provide leaders with the insights necessary to build a lasting legacy.
Check out the new opportunities at Baker, Florida, MIT, Missouri State and Oregon State below.
Post HERE to maximize the reach of your job openings, while enjoying the most affordable posting price offered in the industry. More bang, less bucks.
Introduction
When the United States Soccer Federation was mired in an existential crisis—facing an intensely public equal pay lawsuit from its most famous athletes, widespread sponsor outrage, and sweeping executive resignations—they didn't need a traditional corporate figurehead. They needed a leader who understood the game from the grass up. Cindy Parlow Cone, a former USWNT star, 1999 World Cup champion, and two-time Olympic Gold medalist, stepped into the fire to become the first female President in the history of U.S. Soccer.
She is responsible for overseeing the operational, commercial, and cultural turnaround of the federation, including co-hosting the massive 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. Her leadership is defined by an unwavering commitment to alignment over antagonism, deep empathy for the player experience, and an unshakeable focus on ensuring the sport's commercial growth translates into localized, grassroots access.
From the Pitch to the Presidency
Cone’s executive DNA is rooted in elite performance and high-stakes transitions. Long before she entered the boardroom, she was navigating the pressure cooker of international soccer. She joined the senior national team at just 17 years old, eventually winning two Olympic gold medals and the legendary 1999 Women’s World Cup. She then proved her tactical acumen on the sidelines, serving as head coach of the Portland Thorns and leading them to the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championship in 2013.
However, her transition from the touchline to the executive suite truly cemented her legacy. She ran for Vice President of U.S. Soccer in 2019 because she firmly believed a former player needed to be in the room when critical decisions were being made. Her elevation to President in March 2020 came under unimaginably difficult circumstances: the very same day the world shut down for COVID-19, the sitting president resigned following severe backlash over a federation legal brief that misogynistically claimed women were biologically inferior to men in skill and responsibility.
Inheriting a broken relationship with the players and a toxic public narrative, Cone utilized her unmatched perspective to change the paradigm. She knew exactly what it felt like to view the federation as "the suits," and she leveraged her credibility to establish a unified front, shifting the organizational mindset from a defensive legal posture to a collaborative, solution-oriented culture.
The U.S. Soccer Playbook
Cone approaches the governance of American soccer with a strategy that treats athletes as vital partners rather than liabilities to be managed. Her playbook encompasses three critical pillars:
➤ Alignment Over Antagonism: Cone achieved what previous leaders deemed impossible: settling the equal pay lawsuit and negotiating historic Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs). She recognized that winning a court case wouldn't fix the federation's relationship with its players or sponsors. Through sheer diplomacy, she successfully aligned the men's and women's teams to pool their FIFA World Cup prize money—making the U.S. the first country in the world to achieve true economic gender equality in the sport.
➤ Structural Integrity and Accountability: Following the Yates Report, which exposed systemic abuse in women's professional soccer, Cone prioritized player safety over federation PR. She has actively pushed to overhaul the sport's safeguarding infrastructure, publicly calling out the inadequacies of external agencies like SafeSport, and ensuring the environment surrounding the game matches the professionalized standards of the athletes.
➤ Access and Legacy as ROI: Cone is actively tying the commercial momentum of the 2026 Men's World Cup to long-term grassroots equity. She oversees a strategic vision where the ultimate legacy of the tournament is structural: her stated goal is that every child in America can "walk, ride their bike, or take public transit to a safe place to play soccer," recognizing that long-term enterprise value depends entirely on eliminating barriers to entry.
Lessons on Boldness and Cultural Relevance
Cone has built a second career out of being an unapologetic advocate for doing the right thing, even when the institutional instinct is to fight back. She leads with the philosophy that professional sports leagues must stop treating labor negotiations as zero-sum battles and instead find the shared commercial goals that benefit everyone.
She operates with the belief that a great leader must be willing to inherit someone else's mess and take personal responsibility for fixing it. Amid immense pressure to simply defend U.S. Soccer's legacy legal stance, she had the courage to abandon a toxic strategy. Her success proves that true cultural influence in sports comes from a foundation of transparency, empathy, and the relentless drive to leave the organization fundamentally better than she found it.
Takeaways
➤ Shared Goals Conquer Friction: Cone’s ability to pool the FIFA prize money proved that deep-rooted institutional conflicts are solved not in a courtroom, but by aligning the economic incentives of all parties involved.
➤ The Power of the Player Perspective: By stepping into the boardroom as a former player, Cone eliminated the historic "players vs. the suits" dynamic. Her presence proves that lived athletic experience is an invaluable executive asset.
➤ Legacy is Measured in Access: Cone recognizes that the true ROI of hosting a mega-event like the 2026 World Cup isn't just commercial revenue, but the localized infrastructure left behind to democratize the sport.
➤ True Leadership Absorbs the Blows: Her sudden ascension to the presidency amid lawsuits, sponsor outrage, and a global pandemic demonstrates that elite leaders don't wait for perfect conditions; they step into the fire and stabilize the foundation.
Read. Watch. Listen.
READ: The Los Angeles Times’ Kevin Baxter talks with Parlow Cone about preparations for the upcoming World Cup and how her time on the ‘99 Women’s World Cup team helped shape who she is today. (link)
WATCH: Cone's conversation with Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang on CNBC, where they discuss the business of winning, the massive investments currently fueling women's sports, and the systemic impact of the World Cup on U.S. Soccer's future. (link)
LISTEN: On The Catalyze Podcast, Cone shares her goals for the federation, her historic achievement of equal pay, and her deep-seated belief that the legacy of massive global tournaments must be built on grassroots access for all kids. (link)
Quote to Remember
I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of talking about the ‘99 team, I don’t think I would be the person that I am or in the leadership position that I am without having played on the women’s national team and literally grew up with some of the best leaders I’ve ever been around. Just watching and learning from all of my teammates was hugely impactful in terms of shaping me as a person.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Amélie Mauresmo – Tournament Director, French Open
Publication Date: Sunday, June 7
Cherie DeVaux – Founder and Head Trainer, Cherie DeVaux Racing
Publication Date: Wednesday, June 3
Carrie Ask – CEO, Wilson Sporting Goods
Publication Date: Saturday, May 31
W Jobs is a dedicated distribution channel that highlights leadership and professional opportunities in college athletics for women who want greater visibility into the full range of roles across the industry.
Positions featured here are also posted on the comprehensive CollegeSports.jobs site and are open to all qualified candidates. W Jobs exists to expand awareness, not define who a role is for, because every job in college athletics should be accessible to women. Employers choose to amplify their postings through W Jobs to reach a broader audience and demonstrate their commitment to equitable access to opportunity.
Interested in expanding your reach by promoting your job to women subscribed to College.town publications? Submit your position here.
(Posted from most recent over the last 15 days)
(NEW!) Assistant Coach - Baseball (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): The Assistant Coach is responsible for specifically designated aspects of the sport, exercises independent judgment in providing technical expertise in the fundamentals of the sport. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Assistant Director of Athletic Counseling (Oregon State University / Corvallis, OR): Provide strategic leadership for academic counseling, supervising a team of academic counselors across all sports. Responsible for establishing, maintaining, and promoting best practices. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Assistant Manager of Facility Events and Rentals (Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT / Cambridge, MA): Working in conjunction with students, coaches, faculty, and staff, provides management for the evening and weekend operations of facilities with a focus on managing and supervising athletic events. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Vice President of Athletics (Baker University / Baldwin City, KS): Seeking a high-energy leader committed to competitive excellence, student-athlete success, and advancing the University’s values of integrity, service, innovation, and community. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Senior Director/Director of Athletic Business & Finance - Business & Finance (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Perform and manage services for the UAA Business & Finance office. Oversee the monthly/quarterly/annual UAA required financial statements and reporting. More details HERE.
Director, Athletics Fields (Kennesaw State University / Kennesaw, GA): Responsible for leading athletic field operations, turf maintenance, staff, budgets, and vendors to ensure safe, high-quality, NCAA-compliant playing surfaces for athletics and special events. More details HERE.
Tyler Family Endowed Director of Student-Athlete Development (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Empower Wildcats beyond competition. Lead career readiness, leadership development, and life skills initiatives that prepare student-athletes for success in college and beyond sport. More details HERE.
Hockey Equipment Manager (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Manages all equipment operations for the Division I Men's Ice Hockey program -procuring, maintaining, and overseeing uniforms, equipment, and gear for athletes, coaches, and support staff. More details HERE.
Financial Analysis, Manager II (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Drive financial strategy for Arizona Athletics by leading complex reporting, data analysis, benchmarking, and forecasting to support informed decision-making and organizational success. More details HERE.
Nutritionist (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Help fuel championship performance by delivering expert sports nutrition counseling, education, and meal planning to support the health, wellness, and success of Arizona student-athletes. More details HERE.
Assistant Director, Ticket Operations (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Support the Wildcat fan experience by managing ticket operations for assigned sports, overseeing event-day box office functions, and delivering exceptional customer service. More details HERE.
Associate Director, Ticketing (University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN): Part of a dynamic ticket office team - primary responsibility for a reserved seating sport while helping shape and elevate the overall ticketing strategy. More details HERE.
Associate General Counsel (Athletics) (Vanderbilt University / Nashville, TN): Vanderbilt University is seeking an Associate General Counsel to join the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and provide legal advice to Vanderbilt University Athletics. More details HERE.
Head Baseball Coach (University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma / Chickasha, OK): Head coach responsible for recruiting, coaching, player development, program administration, and compliance with NAIA, conference, and university regulations. More details HERE.
Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director, Administration & Risk (University of Southern California / Los Angeles, CA): USC seeks a collaborative Exec. Sr. Assoc. AD, Administration & Risk to oversee legal affairs, organizational strategy and risk management to help guide one of the nation's premier athletics programs More details HERE.
Head Women's Golf Coach (Methodist University / Fayetteville, NC): The head coach will be responsible for the leadership and organization of a competitive women’s golf program that has had tremendous success winning 26 NCAA Division III Team National Championships. More details HERE.
Assistant Women's Tennis Coach (Part-time) - Intercollegiate Athletics (Duquesne University / Pittsburgh, PA): Under the general direction of the Director of Tennis, the Asst. Women’s Tennis Coach is responsible for supervising, planning, and coordinating the activities of the women’s tennis program. More details HERE.
Assistant Coach - Lacrosse (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Direct and independent coaching for student-athletes who compete in D1 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse for UF. Promote academic excellence. Assess/recruit prospective student-athletes. More details HERE.
Assistant AD, Business Office, Senior Accountant (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Active role in financial reporting & analysis, budgeting, audits, accounts payable, credit card reconciliations and staff supervision. More details HERE.
Assistant Men's Gymnastics Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. More details HERE.
Assistant Men's Ice Hockey Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching Cadet-athletes, season planning, recruiting, logistics, scheduling, managing travel, and managing the team’s budget including purchasing. More details HERE.
Assistant/Associate Head Men's Rugby Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. More details HERE.
Assistant Baseball Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. More details HERE.
Football Equipment Manager (Florida International University / Miami, FL): Manages the procedures for the storage, maintenance, repair, and inventory control of all equipment apparel, and field equipment for the football team. More details HERE.
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications (Juniata College / Huntingdon, PA): Launch your career in athletic communications by creating digital content, supporting live events, managing gameday production, and promoting student-athlete stories in a hands-on role. More details HERE.
Sport Performance Coach-Intern (Juniata College / Huntingdon, PA): Start your sport performance career with hands-on experience designing training programs, supporting student-athletes, and building coaching skills in a collaborative athletics setting. More details HERE.
Strength & Conditioning Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Directly supervise the performance training program of Olympic sports assigned teams - contributing to the wellness of cadet-athletes, assisting cadet-athletes in optimizing competitive performance. More details HERE.
Head Coach Softball (Florida International University / Miami, FL): Provides overall leadership for the Softball program. More details HERE.
Director/Sport Services & Student-Athlete Engagement (NEC / Bridgewater, NJ): The Director will play a key role in the organization and oversight of NEC Championship events and NEC SAAC and academic groups. More details HERE.
Seasonal Assistant Volleyball Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching Cadet-athletes, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. More details HERE.
Part-Time Administrative Assistant (University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN): This part-time role provides support for the day-to-day operations of the football program, with a primary focus on serving as the front desk and first point of contact for the football facility. More details HERE.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach - Men's Basketball (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): To assist the men’s basketball and men’s golf programs with properly training and conditioning of student athletes. This position will help with overall performance of the student athletes. More details HERE.
Head Men's Volleyball Coach (Loras College / Dubuque, IA): Oversee all aspects of the volleyball program. More details HERE.
Assistant Coach - Swimming & Diving (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Provide direct and independent coaching of student-athletes who compete in D1, NCAA Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving for UF. Promote academic excellence. Assess/recruit prospective student-athletes. More details HERE.
Director of Creative Services (College Sports Communicators / Remote, US): This role will create engaging digital, social, print and other content that will drive engagement and elevate the CSC national association brand, its members, and the Academic All-America® program. More details HERE.
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Florida International University / Miami, FL): Assists Head Athletic Trainer in a manner that provides for competent and complete medical care for all student athletes participating in sports in Intercollegiate Athletics. More details HERE.
Assistant Director of Marketing - Marketing & Promotions (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Create comprehensive marketing plans with focus on ticket sales, attendance driving initiatives, fan experience enhancement strategies, and brand awareness. More details HERE.
Academic Advisor (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): The Academic Advisor-Athletics assists in the development and coordination of academic assistance programs designed to enable student-athletes to receive appropriate and timely academic assistance. More details HERE
Assistant Coach -Softball (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): To assist the softball program with day to day operations that include recruiting, academic assistance, individual workouts, scouting, practice, official and unofficial visits, etc. More details HERE.
Executive Assistant - Men's & Women's Tennis (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Provide administrative support to the head and assistant coaches. Coordinate team travel, team meals, and recruit visits. Assist with purchases, invoices, and P-cards. Assist with annual summer camps. More details HERE.
Temporary | Sports Nutrition Assistant, Olympic (University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN): Temporary Sports Nutrition Assistant, Olympic will lead the nutrition care for 3 sport programs. This will include consultations, education, lab review, DXA scans as well as other responsibilities. More details HERE.
Head Coach, Cross Country and Track & Field (Cleveland State University / Cleveland, OH): Provides leadership for all aspects of Cleveland State University’s (CSU) NCAA Division I women’s cross country and track & field program, located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. More details HERE.
Head Coach – Women’s Basketball (Haverford College / Haverford, PA): Haverford College invites applications for our full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt, benefits-eligible Head Coach – Women’s Basketball opportunity. More details HERE.
Associate Head Coach, Track and Field (Washington University in St. Louis / Saint Louis, MO): Serves as the lead staff member for the head coach in maintaining a highly competitive program. Is given specific autonomy, and shares responsibilities with the Head Coach. More details HERE.
Temporary | Sports Nutrition Assistant, Olympic (University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN): Temporary Sports Nutrition Assistant, Olympic will lead the nutrition care for 3 sport programs. This will include consultations, education, lab review, DXA scans as well as other responsibilities. More details HERE.