January 26, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Seattle Reign FC News Release
SEATTLE, WA. – 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…