The Orlando Pride took a major step forward in their front office overhaul by hiring former Houston Dash goalkeeper Haley Carter as their new Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager, a new position created by the club.

She takes over for former GM Ian Fleming, who was dismissed from the team on November 11th, 2022.

Carter served as the reserve goalkeeper for the Dash from 2013-2016, following eight years of serving in the United States Military, including multiple tours to Iraq. During her time in the Armed Forces, she represented the United States in two International Military Sports Council Women’s Military World Soccer Championships.

“I am honored and grateful to join the Orlando Pride. The change-making leadership and committed, personal investment by the Wilf Family to the success of the club made this a tremendous opportunity from the outset,” Carter said. “Our roster is composed of awe-inspiring, gifted athletes, each bringing their own unique and vital qualities to the team. We also have an extremely talented technical, medical, and support staff. Together, we will take the Pride to new heights, further crafting an inclusive, safe, winning culture, making fans proud to support us and players proud to play for us. We’re going to be in the community, we’re going to grow the game, and we’re going to bring championships home to Orlando! I am thrilled to lead our players and staff as we embark upon a new and exciting evolution for the club.”

Other than being a retired soccer player, Carter is also a business executive, coach, licensed attorney, and certified professional football scout holding Level I and II Talent Identification certification. She also serves as Chair of the Women’s Coaches Community for United Soccer Coaches and has been awarded with the organization’s President’s Award in 2019 and 2022. Most recently, she was awarded and a Certificate of Appreciation in this month.

“When we began our search for this key role for the Orlando Pride, we were looking for someone with deep and comprehensive knowledge of the women’s game and the leadership qualities to carry our organization into its next era.” Orlando Pride Chairman Mark Wilf said. “Haley is a strong, experienced and respected leader with a vast background and network across women’s soccer, including an extensive knowledge of the NWSL. Off the field, she has a clear dedication to service, community and player safety. After our conversations with Haley and feedback from our players, we believe Haley is the perfect leader for us and we look forward to supporting her in building the Pride into a world-class franchise.”

Following her retirement from playing professional soccer, Carter has coached at multiple levels, including youth, collegiate, and international soccer, where she served as an Assistant Coach for the Afghanistan Women’s National Team and as a goalkeeper coach for the Antigua and Barbuda Women’s National Team.

Outside of the sport, Carter has been incredibly active in social causes, sitting on the Executive Board for the Girls Academy League, and the City of Houston Women’s Commission, and was chairman of the City of Houston Commission to End Gun Violence.

In addition to her degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, Carter owns an MBA with Distinction from the University of Liverpool and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

What this means for the 2023 Orlando Pride:

Despite not having been a team GM prior to this role, Carter brings a wealth of experience in every other field and has many of the necessary qualities teams want in those roles. Her playing and coaching background, mixed in with her business experience and legal degree, make her, on paper, to be a slam dunk hire. The biggest question from here on in will be the cooperation and coordination between her and the Pride’s new coaching staff.

If the two can get on the same page in how to build the roster and the kind of team they want to see, then Orlando could turn a page on their last five years of missed playoffs and finally produce a consistent winning product on the pitch.

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