Briana Scurry named Washington Spirit first assistant coach

The World Cup and Olympic champion will also serve as technical advisor to both Spirit Development Academy teams

The Washington Spirit have named USWNT legend Briana Scurry to their technical staff, where she will function as the team’s first assistant coach as well as being an advisor for the Maryland and Virginia Development Academy programs. Scurry amassed 175 caps while playing for the United States, including a starting role on the 1999 World Cup-winning side as well as gold medal-winning Olympic teams in 1996 and 2004.

"I've always been a loyal fan of the Washington Spirit and now I have the wonderful opportunity to truly be a part of the team,” Scurry said in a team release. “I'm excited to bring my experiences and knowledge to our players, and to contribute in an effective and positive manner to the culture of the team and organization as a whole."

Scurry takes over roles previously held by Denise Reddy, who recently left the Spirit to take over as the head coach of Sky Blue FC. Reddy’s job, as far as the first team was concerned, included a lot of focus on the defensive side of things. Scurry’s career as a goalkeeper points to that being in her wheelhouse, though there is no word as to whether the Spirit will maintain the same structure as far as responsibilities go.

Scurry has lived in the DC region for years, and finished her professional career with the WPS-era Washington Freedom. Off the field, she has been at the forefront of concussion awareness and advocacy, as well as being a pioneer in women’s soccer in both the African-American and LGBT communities. Among numerous honors, Scurry is the subject of a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. She was also named to the National Soccer Hall of Fame this year.

Scurry’s connections to the sport in the region are impressive. D.C. United made sure she was one of the RFK legends included on their Last Call at RFK poster. She was an honorary captain for both the Spirit and United in 2016, with United goalkeeper Bill Hamid referring to her as “ICONIC” after presenting her with a jersey: