Why is there so much head coaching turnover in the NWSL?

Why is there so much head coaching turnover in the NWSL?

Author: The Athletic September 17, 2026 Duration: 46:49

How long does the average head coach last in the NWSL? Why do we see so much turnover at the head coaching position? What are the causes, and what are the solutions (if we need them)?


On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin for a deep dive into coaching turnover in the NWSL. The trio unpacks all the data from coaching turnover over the last five years in the NWSL, examining the trends behind the revolving door as well as trying to understand which clubs are showing a different way. Are male and female head coaches given different lengths of tenure? What is the adequate amount of time to evaluate a head coach?

_______________

HOST: Jillian Sakovits

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

_______________

Referenced on the show:

As NWSL grows, ‘head coach retention’ should become a new marker of success

Houston Dash fire coach Fabrice Gautrat and technical director Twila Kilgore

Vlatko Andonovski’s Kansas City Current departure: ‘The finality of it hurts for the players’

Bay FC close to appointing ex-Chelsea general manager Paul Green as head of football

Meet Jimmy Coenraets, the 31-year-old Utah Royals coach leading NWSL’s most unlikely contender

_______________

Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


For anyone who lives and breathes the beautiful game as played by women, Full Time: A show about women's soccer is your essential audio companion. This isn't just a recap show; it's a deep, thoughtful, and often lively exploration of the entire ecosystem. Produced by the journalists at The Athletic, the podcast delivers expert analysis and storytelling you can trust, moving seamlessly from the latest U.S. women’s national team drama to the week's pivotal NWSL results and major stories from leagues across Europe and the globe. Three times a week, hosts Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin, and Jillian Sakovits break down the matches, but more importantly, they dig into the culture, context, and consequential conversations that define the sport's moment. You'll hear from fellow reporters, players, coaches, and insiders who provide unique perspectives you won't find anywhere else. Whether it's a transfer saga, a tactical revolution, or a discussion about the broader impact of the game, this is where the narrative gets unpacked. Tune in for a blend of immediate reaction, investigative reporting, and the kind of informed debate that mirrors the passion of the fans themselves. This podcast goes beyond the final whistle to deliver the full story.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Full Time: A show about women's soccer
Podcast Episodes
Kennedy Fuller & the U.S. U-20 WNT 2026 World Cup roster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
On this episode of Full Time Focus, we’re talking about the USA roster for the upcoming 2026 U-20 World Cup in Poland, which was released this week.Host Jillian Sakovits sat down with Bay FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller to…
Could we see relocation in the NWSL again? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:57
On this week’s Full Time, hosts Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, and Tamerra Griffin unpack the past, present, and future of relocation in the NWSL.A lot of this conversation has been sparked by noise around Racing Louisvi…
How Cameroon won WAFCON while Temwa Chawinga captured U.S. audiences [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:46
The 2026 Women’s African Cup of Nations is in the books. On Sunday night, Cameroon defeated Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat, Morocco, to lift their first-ever continental trophy.While the finale proved one game too many…
Ashley Sanchez on her incredible 2026 and USWNT ambitions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:49
Ashley Sanchez has been one of the best players of the 2026 NWSL season. In a career year for the 27-year-old North Carolina Courage attacker, the conversation is turning to whether it is time for a return to the U.S. wo…
The rise of women’s soccer mini-games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:13
On this week’s Full Time, hosts Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, and Tamerra Griffin dive into the emerging world of web-based women’s soccer mini-games. The pod talks to the people behind viral soccer mini-games ‘Road to…
Breaking down the NWSL’s 2027 calendar moves, Ted Lasso & more [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:04
On Wednesday, at a press conference in New York City, NWSL commissioner Jess Berman officially unveiled the league’s 2027 calendar outline. In what will be the NWSL’s historic 15th season, the league will have its earlie…
2026 Summer Mailbag [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:13
Is Trinity Rodman overrated? Do the U.S. women’s national team need to be playing in more competitive tournaments? Should more NWSL teams follow the Utah Royals and give head coaches more time? This week’s Full Time is a…
The week that shook Gianni Infantino, FIFA and global soccer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:47
Hot off the heels of the 2026 men’s World Cup – FIFA president Gianni Infantino unveiled a proposal to sell a stake in FIFA competitions to private investors. After widespread condemnation from the public and FIFA member…
How the NSL plans to fuel Canadian women’s soccer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:01
With the second-ever Northern Super League season underway, the NSL has recently announced that it would be adding its first expansion team. Co-founded by Canadian soccer legend Desiree Scott, Winnipeg is set to become t…