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

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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.  

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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. Information about the USSF coaching license pathway is 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 Utah Royals coaches.

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Jimmy Coenraets – Head Coach

NWSL History: Originally from Belgium, Coenraets joined the Royals as an assistant coach in June 2024. Less than a month later he was named interim head coach following the dismissal of Amy Rodriguez, and in October 2024 the Royals removed the interim status. 

• Highest License: He is not licensed through USSF, though according to his Royal’s bio he has a UEFA A license. He also has a degree in marketing and international football business from the University of Brussels.
• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No Background Screening
• SafeSport: issued 7/5/2024 and valid through 7/5/2025
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments

Mariana Cabral – Assistant Coach

NWSL History: From São Miguel in the Azores, Cabral joins the Royals after spending eight years with Sporting Portugal in Lisbon. Other than adding her to their website, it doesn't appear that the Royals have announced her hiring, although Portugese media has reported it. 

• Highest License: She is not licensed through USSF, though according to her Instagram she has an UEFA A license.

Cabral does not seem to be in the USSF database, which would mean:

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

Given that she was just recently hired for her first job in the U.S., it makes sense that Cabral isn't in the USSF database. Though, it leads to the question of how much time should a coach be given to complete the Safe Soccer Clearence Program - if it was mandatory that is. 

Emily Simpkins – Assistant Coach

NWSL History: A former player from England, Simpkins was hired by the Royals in December 2024. 

• Highest License: She is not licensed through USSF, though according to her LinkedIn she has an UEFA A license.

Simpkins does not seem to be in the USSF database, which would mean:

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

Sam Lismont – Performance Coach/Analyst

NWSL History: Lismont joined the Royals in June 2024 along side Jimmy Coenraets. Both came from OH Leuven in Belgium

• Highest License: He is not licensed through USSF, though according to a Royal’s press release he has a UEFA A diploma.

Lismont does not seem to be in the USSF database, which would mean:

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

James White – Goalkeeping Coach

NWSL History: Also a former player from England, White joined the Royals in October 2024. 

• Highest License: He is not licensed through USSF, though according to a Royal’s press release he has a UEFA A license.

White does not seem to be in the USSF database, which would mean:

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

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In January, former Utah Royal player, Carly Nelson, spoke out  about "the emotional and psychological abuse" she suffered while playing for the club in 2024.  This abuse led her to take mental health leave in May 2024.  Given this, let's also look at the Royals coaching staff from last season. 

Amy Rodriguez – Head Coach (in directory as Amy Shilling)

NWSL History: A former USWNT player, Rodriguez played in the NWSL from 2013 until 2021. Her career included playing for and captaining the first iteration of the Royals. She announced her retirement in January 2022 and took an assistant coaching job at her alma mater, USC. In April 2023, the Royals announced that Rodriguez would take the helm as head coach for the club's return to the NWSL in 2024. Rodriguez had played with then Royals' President, Michelle Hyncik, in their youth. Neither of the two would last the full 2024 season at the Royals. At the end of June 2024 the club announced that Rodriguez had been "relieved of her duties" and that "Hyncik will begin transitioning to a new opportunity" which was "a legal role with the Blitzer Family Office" (David Blitzer is an owner of the Royals).  

• Highest License: A - Senior, issued 10/3/2023
• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No Background Screening
• No SafeSport
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments

Frédéric Brillant – Assistant Coach 

NWSL History: Brillant is a former player, including in the MLS. Following his retirment in 2022, he started his coaching career. He was announced to the Royals' coaching staff in March 2024.  At the begining of June 2024, the Royals announced the club and Brillant had "mutually agreed to part ways in order for Brillant to pursue a new opportunity". His new opportunity was becoming the head coach for DC Power of the USL Super League.

• Highest License: A - Senior, issued 10/12/2023
• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No Background Screening
• SafeSport: issued 3/12/2024 and valid through 3/12/2025
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments

Vanessa Mann – Assistant Coach 

NWSL History: Originally hailing from Australia, Mann was announced to the Royals' coaching staff in March 2024, after an extensive coaching career in the youth an college game in the U.S. It was her first time coaching in the NWSL and in the professional game. At the beginning of May 2024, the Royals announced a mutually agreed upon parting of ways with Mann. In the press release Royals GM Kelly Cousins said, “This mutually-agreed upon termination will allow her to seek and identify future opportunities that better suit her personal and family needs.”

• Highest License: National A, issued 6/21/2015

Mann has completed the Safe Soccer Clearance Program, which means she also has a background screening, SafeSport training, and Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments training. However, all of it was issued to her after she left the Royals. In a limitation of the USSF directory, it only shows the most current compliance certifications. Thus, the directory cannot be used to know if Mann had the Safe Soccer Clearance while she was coaching at the Royals. 

Maryse Bard-Martel – Goalkeeping Coach

NWSL History: A former Canadian youth international who played collegiately at the Unversity of Memphis, Bard-Martel was announced to the Royal's coaching staff in March 2024. The Royals announced Bard-Martel was "released from her position" at the same time as Amy Rodriguez.    

• Highest License: National D, issued 4/28/2019

The Royal's stated in their press release announcing her hiring that Bard-Martel has a National C license, but it is not listed in the USSF directory.

• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No Background Screening
• SafeSport: issued 6/10/2024 and valid through 6/10/2025
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments

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Four of the five current Royals’ coaches do not appear to even be listed in the USSF directory. Head coach Jimmy Coenraets is in the USSF directory, but he has not completed the Safe Soccer Clearance Program. The program is voluntary and the club and/or the NWSL may have conducted background checks without putting it into the USSF system. However, the NWSL is still dealing with the effects of previous rampant abuse, is currently being sued along side the San Diego Wave, and in January former Utah Royal, Carly Nelson, spoke out about the abuse she endured last season. The Safe Soccer Clearance Program is hardly a cure all, but shouldn’t the NWSL and U.S. Soccer want – if not outright mandate - that NWSL coaches complete this program that was created because of the misconduct that occurred in the league?