Seattle Reign FC Announces 2024 Technical Staff
Seattle Reign FC today announced the expansion of its technical staff. General Manager Lesle Gallimore, along with three-time NWSL Coach of the Year Laura Harvey, have named returning staff members and three new hires for the 2024 NWSL season.
“Since I first joined the club in the middle of last season, it has been a priority to expand our technical team,” said Seattle Reign FC General Manager Lesle Gallimore. “These new additions are bringing in decades of knowledge and experience to our club that will positively enhance the development of our players and lead to overall team success. We have more to do to enhance the staff and progress as a club, but the addition of these three proven leaders is a great start."
Head Assistant Coach Scott Parkinson and Assistant Coach Kate Norton return to Harvey’s coaching staff for a second consecutive season after helping lead the club to its third appearance in the NWSL Championship.
Joining the coaching staff is Assistant Coach & Head of Goalkeeping Lloyd Yaxley, who most recently spent two seasons with the Kansas City Current as the club’s goalkeeper coach. Yaxley holds a USSF A-Senior coaching license, in addition to NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping and NSCAA Advanced Regional Diplomas.
A true NWSL veteran coach, he brings over a decade of experience developing talented goalkeepers across the league. Prior to joining the Current in 2022, Yaxley spent five years with the Orlando Pride from 2017-21 and four seasons with the Washington Spirit from 2013-16.
Seattle Reign FC has also hired Medical Director Emily Fortunato and High Performance Director Michael Minthorne.
Fortunato joins the club with extensive medical experience in professional women’s sports, having worked a combined 11 years between the NWSL and WNBA. Most recently, Fortunato spent three seasons as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Red Stars (2021-23). Prior to working with the Red Stars, Fortunato spent three years on Harvey’s staff at the Utah Royals (2018-20), three years with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA (2015-17) and three years with the Washington Spirit (2013-15).
Under Harvey, Fortunato oversaw all day-to-day operations of the medical department for the Royals where she developed the club’s concussion management protocol. Notably, she has also been a network provider for US Soccer since 2013, working on staff during the team’s 2019 World Cup run and 2021 Olympic Games. In this role, Fortunato assisted the full-time medical staff at US Soccer, providing support during camps, friendlies and tournaments.
Minthorne joins the Reign after spending over three years as the High-Performance Coach for the Washington Spirit. With 16 years of experience in improving human performance with regards to movement, nutrition, recovery and mindset for the demands of high-level competition, he has a wealth of skill in developing methodology to complement individual and team goals.
In addition to his NWSL experience, Minthorne also brings global experience to club, most recently serving as the Scientific Coordinator for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in Brazil. He also was the Lead Fitness Coach at Aston Villa FC in the United Kingdom and spent two years as a Performance Coach for the Chinese Olympic Committee.
Along with the return of Parkinson and Norton, additional returning Seattle Reign FC technical staff include General Manager Lesle Gallimore, Associate General Manager Santiago Gallo, Video Analyst Kevin Pineda, Sports Dietitian Bethany Chapman, Physical Therapist Dr. Bethany Diamond, Head Athletic Trainer Jordan Carmosino, Assistant Athletic Trainer Kevin Orozco, Clinical and Sports Psychologist Dr. Mariah Bullock, Massage Therapist Heidi Henderson, Chiropractor Endeah Hardesty, Equipment Manager Sara Salefske, Equipment Coordinator Jessica Gottlieb, Operations Manager Kyllian Perrin, Player Care Manager Manuel Torres and Chaplain Amy Benthin.
2024 Seattle Reign FC Technical Staff
General Manager: Lesle Gallimore
Associate General Manager: Santiago Gallo
Head Coach: Laura Harvey
Head Assistant Coach: Scott Parkinson
Assistant Coach: Kate Norton
Assistant Coach & Head of Goalkeeping: Lloyd Yaxley*
Video Analyst: Kevin Pineda
High Performance Director: Michael Minthorne*
Sports Dietitian: Bethany Chapman
Medical Director: Emily Fortunato*
Physical Therapist: Dr. Bethany Diamond
Head Athletic Trainer: Dr. Jordan Carmosino
Assistant Athletic Trainer: Kevin Orozco
Clinical and Sports Psychologist: Dr. Mariah Bullock
Massage Therapist: Heidi Henderson
Chiropractor: Endeah Hardesty
Equipment Manager: Sara Salefske
Equipment Coordinator: Jessica Gottlieb
Operations Manager: Kyllian Perrin
Player Care Manager: Manuel Torres
Chaplain: Amy Benthin
*New technical team member