After an intensive search process that included applicants from across the globe Alexandria Soccer Association (ASA) is thrilled to welcome Jennie Orloff as the new Academy Program Director. Reporting to Chris Arnold, Deputy Director of Academy & Futsal programs, Jennie will oversee all operations and administration of ASA’s Academy, the club’s most comprehensive program.The Academy hosts 900+ passionate soccer players and their families on sixty teams delivering over 250 hours of quality programming for each player annually. The program is nationally recognized for its diversity of participants, supportive parent community, well developed curriculum, progressive approach to teaching, impressive on field application of concepts, all led by a dedicated team of over 50 staff coaches.
A note from ASA Executive Director Tommy Park:
When we began planning to replace our Technical Director it was clear to our executive team that we needed to restructure and improve how we support Academy staff coaches and program implementation. Instead of focusing on coaching experience as the primary qualification, our team strategically outlined the need for exceptional executive management skills, experience in administration, and ability to oversee a complex program of 3,000+ people (players, parents, coaches, team managers, support staff, volunteers) year round. Jennie’s passion for the IMPACT soccer can have on an individual and community are immediately evident. Soccer was a formative experience for her as the life skills she learned through the sport provided her amazing educational and career opportunities. Her experiences across the globe uniquely prepared her for this important position within ASA. Jennie joins us in a new role where she will focus solely on creating and providing the best possible overall Academy experience for our kids and families. We are thrilled to add Jennie and are excited for her to lead our Academy team with Chris in delivering gold standard programming to our participants.
Prior to becoming Academy director, Jennie was chief of staff at the American Foreign Service Association. As a former Foreign Service family member, she was the Community Liaison Officer at a U.S. embassy in west Africa. Earlier, Jennie worked at DC Public Schools, the executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates, and the U.S. Justice Department. She has a Masters in education, a graduate certificate in counseling from George Washington University and a Bachelors in government/law & French from Lafayette College, where she played division I soccer. She also played for the undefeated Avon High School state championship team and multiple amateur teams in the DC area. Jennie speaks French and lives in Alexandria with her husband and daughter.
Jennie’s primary role includes leading point of contact for individual Academy families; managing the yearly calendar of practices, games and competitions for all Academy teams; organizing and managing the tryout season; liaison for the technical/curriculum development team; supporting both coaches and team managers; and helping grow out developing areas such as player pathways and college support for high school players. Her focus will allow coaches to spend more time focused on the players and less on the challenging administrative intricacies involved with program management.
Jennie joins ten full time ASA staff members to round out a diverse, dynamic and experienced team. The addition of an Academy Director will help ASA continue to focus their vision on being the gold standard for community based soccer clubs.
DOWNLOAD a pdf version of the this press release HERE.
