In the wake of abuse by coaches throughout the NWSL coming to light in 2021, U.S. Soccer commissioned an investigation which culminated in the Yates Report, which resulted in U.S. Soccer creating the Safe Soccer Clearance Program. The program has three phases. Currently the program is voluntary.

• Phase 1 of the program includes SafeSport training, Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments training, reading and acceptance of U.S. Soccer’s Code of Conduct, and confirmation of the accuracy of contact information.
• Phase 2 of the program includes, completion of phase 1, Positive Soccer Environments, and DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging).
• Phase 3 of the program includes completion of phase 2 and a background screening.

The first two sentences of the NWSL Coaches Code of Conduct state:

“Coaches shall hold themselves to the highest standard of coaching within the soccer ecosystem and promote a positive and safe environment for all participants.”

“Coaches shall comply with the NWSL coach licensing standards (as defined in Operations Manual Section 8.19) and seek continuous personal and professional development.”

The code of conduct makes no mention of specifics. It seems the NWSL Operations Manual would have the specifics, but it is not made public.  

In 2015 U.S. Soccer revamped it's coaching education, creating the Pro License which is the current highest. In 2018, U.S. Soocer again made changes to it's coaching education, this time in an effort to impove the grassroutes pathway. You can find information about the USSF coaching license pathway here.

The U.S. Soccer Directory “serves as a verification of record for users that have current coaching, referee and compliance related certifications on file with U.S. Soccer. Active licensing and/or compliance certifications represent satisfactory completion of course related criteria.”

With the NWSL currently in the midst of pre-season, let’s have a look at the Bay FC coaches.

While there are other NWSL teams’ websites that do not make it easy to find their coaching staff, Bay FC is the only club in the league that seems to not have their coaching staff listed on their website. They also do not list their staff at all. Below was the coaching staff for 2024.

Albertin Montoya – Head Coach

NWSL History: Montoya’s first foray into the NWSL was as the interim head coach for the Washington Spirit for the remainder of the 2022 after the club fired Kris Ward due to misconduct. Ward was later banned from working in the league. Bay FC announced Montoya as their inaugural head coach in September 2023.  

• Highest License: National A, issued 1/10/2010
• Safe Soccer Clearance: phase one of three complete, issued 8/13/2024 and expires 4/23/2025
• No Background Screening
• SafeSport: issued 8/12/2024 and valid through 8/12/2025
• Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments: issued 8/11/2024 and valid through 8/11/2025

Jason Goodson – Assistant Coach

NWSL History: Bay FC announced Goodson as part of the inaugural coaching staff in December 2024, which is his first time working in the league.   

• Highest License: National A, issued 1/10/2007
• Safe Soccer Clearance: phase three of three complete, issued 8/16/2024 and expires 8/15/2025
• Background Screening: issued 8/16/2024 and valid through 8/15/2026
• SafeSport: issued 8/15/2024 and valid through 8/15/2025
• Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments: issued 8/15/2024 and valid through 8/15/2025

Angela Salem – Assistant Coach

NWSL History: Salem played in the NWSL, starting with the Western New Flash in 2013. She also played for the Washington Spirit, Boston Breakers, and retired as a Portland Thorn in 2021. Salem was named as an assistant coach for the Washington Spirit in March 2022. Salem was acting head coach for one game after the Spirit fired Kris Ward due to misconduct. Bay FC announced Salem as part of the inaugural coaching staff in December 2024.

• Highest License: A – Senior, issued 11/10/2024
• Safe Soccer Clearance: phase one of three complete, issued 1/15/2025 and expires 9/28/2025
• No Background Screening
• SafeSport: issued 12/19/2024 and valid through 12/19/2025
• Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments: issued 9/28/2024 and valid through 9/28/2025

Diego Restrepo – Goalkeeper Coach

NWSL History: Bay FC announced Restrepo as part of the inaugural coaching staff in December 2024, which was his first time working in the league. He mysteriously left in the middle of the 2024 season – it does not appear that Bay FC announced his departure nor does it appear that they announced his replacement. According to social media, Restrepo is currently working for Manchester City as their Goalkeeper Coach.

Restrepo does not seem to be in the USSF directory.

• Highest License: Bay FC’s announcement about Restrepo’s hiring did not mention him having any licenses, nor does his Manchester City (where he currently works) bio.

Since he doesn't seem to be in the directory, that would mean:

• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No Background Screening
• No SafeSport
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments

Kelly Miller – Goalkeeper Coach

NWSL History: Although Bay FC never announced Miller’s hiring, he took over for Restrepo. He was an assistant coach for FCKC from 2013 through 2017.

Miller does not seem to be in the USSF directory. There are nineteen results in the USSF directory for “Kelly Miller”.  Trying to narrow it down using California, Kansas, or Missouri as the state yields zero results. 

• Highest License: Miller’s bio for FCKC said that he “holds USSF licensing” but there is only one Kelly Miller with a license in the directory with a license and it is a National F license so hopefully that is not Bay FC’s Kelly Miller.

If in fact, none of the Kelly Millers in the directory are the Bay FC Kelly Miller (and again, none of them have the licensure of a professional coach), that would mean:

• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No Background Screening
• No SafeSport
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments