Oguchi Onyewu has been chosen to aid in the search for the new head coach of the team he represented 69 times, after being named “Vice President of Sporting” within the US Soccer organization.
US Soccer announced on Wednesday that the 40 year-old former defender will assume the newly created role within the organization, directly linking him to the team’s future success, as they undergo a period of major transition.
According to the US Soccer press release, the DC-born player known to fans as Gooch will work directly with new Sporting Director Matt Crocker in a variety of roles, most notably assisting in the selection of the new head coach.
The team has been operating under the guidance of interim coach Anthony Hudson since the expiration of Gregg Berhalter’s contract at the turn of the new year, and US Soccer has given no indication of when they aim to have the next permanent coach in place.
“We are thrilled to welcome Oguchi Onyewu to our team at US Soccer,” Crocker stated in the announcement, continuing “His experience as a player and sports executive, coupled with his deep understanding of US Soccer, Oguchi will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our sporting initiatives.”
“We all look forward to working closely with him.”
In addition to the aiding in the hunt for the coach that is expected to lead the team to a strong run on home turf in 2026, Onyewu’s job will also include playing “a prominent role in managing relationships with clubs and leagues in the United States and across the world, along with strengthening other stakeholder relationships,” as well as assisting Crocker on a number of other initiatives and fundraising activities within the US Soccer Federation.
This is far from his first job on the administrative side of the game since his retirement in 2017. He acted as Sporting Director for Sporting Orlando’s reserve side during 2018 and 2019, and more recently has been acting as Secretary General of lower division Belgian club Royal Excelsior Virton.
Within the US Soccer organization, he has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2021, although will resign that role in order to move into his new position.
It’s unclear whether Crocker and Onyewu aim to complete their search before the next meaningful games for the USMNT, the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Mexico in Las Vegas on June 15.
During his ten years representing the USMNT, the globetrotting defender became a fan favorite, not only for his dominant presence in the back line, but also for his memorable stare-downs with prominent players on the archrival Mexican squad.
He participated in two World Cups with the team, was a part of three Gold Cup winning squads, and was a key figure in the team’s remarkable run to the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa.
