In the third year of operation, a historically infamous one for professional women’s soccer leagues, the NWSL has named Cheryl Bailey’s successor. Jeff Plush brings considerable experience from men’s soccer including his time as Managing Director of the Colorado Rapids and his current role as founder and CEO of a sports consultancy.
Plush became Managing Director of the Colorado Rapids in 2006, a period of considerable change for the club including the move to a soccer specific stadium as well as the sale of the naming rights to the stadium to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Plush remained with the club until 2011, which included an MLS Cup win in 2010. However, a major front office shake-up in 2011 which included the dismissal of head coach Gary Smith also ended in Plush parting ways with the club.
Since then Plush founded Helium Sports Group, a sports consultancy with offices in Denver and London. According to his LinkedIn profile, Jeff “has a substantial track record of leading organizations to achieve both financial and competitive success and is known for building long-term, valued relationships and has a particular strength in strategic planning and partnership development.”
Unfortunately, Plush isn’t on Twitter, but his profile goes on to note that “he is deeply committed to doing business with integrity and transparency while believing we should still be having fun in the sports business.”
Entering a World Cup year is both an exciting and scary prospective. Plush has a tremendous opportunity to help nine owners do what nobody else has, successfully bring a stable women’s pro soccer league through a third season and into a fourth.
Photo courtesy of the Colorado Rapids