MLS launches new initiative to advance underrepresented coaches
There’s a new way to climb the ranks of Major League Soccer. On Tuesday, MLS officially launched their MLS ADVANCE initiative. The invitation-only program focuses on identifying and developing underrepresented candidates for various sporting roles within the league and across the MLS ecosystem, including the developmental league and academy.
Candidates enrolled in the program have unique opportunities to meet with team officials and front-office leaders, along with mentorship and access to skill-building resources.
“Given the diverse player and fan populations of our league, our work at MLS is to continue to ensure that our league and clubs reflect the diversity not only of MLS but of our sport around the world,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement released by the league.
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How does it work? MLS ADVANCE will have 3 key paths
According to the league, there are three keys to increasing hiring diversity through MLS ADVANCE:
- A global diverse database curating a list of qualified underrepresented candidates for job vacancies.
- Networking events with key decision makers. Candidates will be invited to key events, including MLS Board of Governors meetings, to network with front office leaders.
- Professional development. Candidates learn through mentoring and year-round programs that include interview preparation, coaching licensing support and a speaker series with MLS leaders.
MLS ADVANCE started as a pilot in December and according to the league has already placed five out of 12 candidates – 42% – in sporting positions.
A “life changing” opportunity
CF Montréal assistant coach Hervé Diese, who attended a two-day MLS ADVANCE event in Florida, called it “truly life-changing”.
“I was able to learn from some of the key leaders in MLS, had the chance to hone my interviewing and networking skills and finally met CF Montréal’s assistant sporting director, Vassili Cremanzidis, which led to my new role at the club,” said This one statement. “I have been blown away by the level of support, support and encouragement I have received from staff and leaders at the MLS league over the past few months.”
She added that he wants to continue working at MLS ADVANCE and one day mentor the next generation of leaders.
Charlotte FC assistant Pa-Madou Kah said meetings with decision makers made a difference for him.
“Often you don’t get a chance to hear how the CSOs or GMs think because they’re the ones making decisions,” Kah told the Tennessean. “And if they face you and they see you and you can talk to them, then you can give them a different narrative than maybe what they’ve heard about you.”
MLS diversity in numbers
MLS has pledged to increase “Inclusion and Representation” in 2020. As the 2023 season begins Saturday, 57% of the league’s players are Black or Hispanic and 34% of the league’s head coaches are Black or Hispanic. The league said hiring of black candidates rose 120% between August and November last year.
In 2021, the league also updated its diversity hiring policy, requiring teams to have two or more non-white candidates, one of whom must be black, in their finalist pools for open sports positions. Teams must also enter all job vacancies and details of their application process on the Diversity Policy Portal or face a $100,000 fine.
According to the league, the changes took immediate effect.
- Underrepresented candidates accounted for 51% of MLS sport roles filled in the first year after the policy update and 64% of MLS NEXT Pro sport roles filled in the first two months of the new policy.
- The league now has a database of over 300 underrepresented candidates
- More than 200 underrepresented candidates were interviewed as finalists.
“We are encouraged by the results to date and know that the list of qualified individuals eager to contribute to the continued progress of the league will only grow,” said Quincy Amarikwa, founder and executive director of Black Players for Change (BPC).
