Dr. Robert Contiguglia, U.S. Soccer President On April Heinrichs: “It is an honor to introduce April Heinrichs as the new U.S. women’s national team head coach. I have known her since she was a youth player in Colorado when she would dribble a ball around my feet. Her vibrant and charismatic personality style mixed with a passion and unprecedented dedication to the sport of soccer makes me proud to name April as the new U.S. women’s national team head coach.” On the importance of a four-year contract: “It is important that an individual has a chance to express themselves over time. We are talking about building a program and not an event. It involves success on the field, but it’s more than that. We’re building a program and a sport.” April Heinrichs, U.S. women’s national team coach Opening Statement: “It is exciting for me to be here and to accept this position. Without Title IX. I wouldn’t of had the opportunity to play college sports, without [North Carolina head coach] Anson Dorrance I wouldn’t of had that opportunity to play college soccer and without U.S. Soccer I wouldn’t of had the opportunity to compete at the international level. I have great pride and honor in this new position, and looking forward to the opportunity.” On learning from playing under Dorrance and coaching as an assistant with Tony DiCicco: “With Anson there came structural organization. You have to put together organized training sessions and present that to the team day in and day out. I was very lucky to work with Tony DiCicco. We came together over the last couple of years, looked at the game and took it to another level. I am looking forward to taking the women’s team and program to another level with what I have learned from the great teachers of the sport.” On being named the new U.S. women’s national team head coach: “This past week has been incredibly exciting. I am hopeful U.S. Soccer and players will come together soon. I can’t wait to get on the field, put my cleats on and get down to business.” On assembling her coaching staff: “I have lived in a whirlwind these last five to six days. I have not given a lot of thought to staffing yet. I’m also technical director, so I’m looking at a big picture. I’ll tap into people that are currently in place and in the grass roots soccer community.” On what the boycotting players will miss if they don’t return soon: “I start every training camp the same way. The players come in with a clean slate, and I watch those players that day, the next and the next. I am a coach that believes that training is important every day and competing against world powers is important.” On the pressures of being the U.S. women’s coach: “The most important thing is that I am going to let the players be themselves. There are a bundle of different personalities on the team. I am going put the best starting 11 on the field and let them play. We’ll fight for every win and compete for every ball. I haven’t felt pressure yet. In my course as a player and coach, I have found that I love to win and I will put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to win and prepare a team in a fashion to win and that’s the greatest pressure I’ll ever have.” On the upcoming match against Norway: “I am looking to get 30-35 players together for a training camp starting a the beginning of February in preparations for the Feb. 6 match against Norway. We will get the ball running and the best 11 will start.” On the biggest challenge in preparing for the Olympics: “The biggest challenge will be cutting a player pool from 41 to sixteen. That means that four players from the World Cup roster will not make it. It is going to be a tremendous process of picking those 16 players.” On U.S. World Cup assistant coach and head coach candidate Lauren Gregg: “I haven’t spoken to Lauren. I don’t think it was my place to contact her. It is important that U.S. Soccer did their research and sought out great coaches. There wasn’t just one right choice. There was more than one good choice. I’m certain that Lauren will be tremendously supportive and she knows how important support is to be successful.” On the interview process: “The interview progress was long and when Tony resigned, I thought that maybe in five years I would have the opportunity to interview for the position. But when, U.S. Soccer called and ask me to summit a paper, I said, ‘I’d love to.’ So I tried to write the best paper and have the opportunity to get a face-to-face interview and hope that they [U.S. Soccer] would remember me in future as a top candidate.” Julie Foudy, U.S. midfielder and co-captain On the selection process: “We are happy with all the candidates and pleased with the process. We knew that it wasn’t our decision, but it was appreciated that our input mattered. April is an incredible leader, a gifted motivator and great tactician.”