In a significant transatlantic move, Emma Coates has stepped down from her role leading the England Women's Under-23 national team to accept the position of head coach at National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Bay FC.
A New Challenge in California
The 34-year-old coach replaces Albertin Montoya, who guided the San José-based expansion team when it joined the NWSL two years ago. Montoya confirmed his resignation back in September, stating he would leave at the end of the 2025 season. His departure follows a difficult campaign where Bay FC finished 13th in the 14-team league table.
Coates, who has been in charge of the England U23s since 2023, leaves the Football Association after overseeing recent fixtures including a 1-0 victory over Norway in the European U23 League and a 4-2 friendly defeat to the United States. She will be joined in her new venture by her England assistant, Gemma Davies, the former Aston Villa Women's manager.
Farewell to the FA and a Proven Track Record
Reflecting on her time with the English FA, Coates expressed gratitude and readiness for her next chapter. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the FA," she said. "It has helped shape me both professionally and personally. Now, I feel ready and excited to challenge myself in a new environment."
Her appointment was strongly endorsed by Kay Cossington, CEO of Bay Collective and the FA's former women's technical director. Cossington highlighted Coates's proven ability to develop players for the highest levels of club and international football. "Emma is not only an excellent coach, but she also has a proven track record of developing players to compete at the highest levels," Cossington stated, adding that Coates is "an outstanding leader of people and culture."
Strengthening the Pathway and Looking Ahead
The new FA women's technical director, Gavin Step, paid tribute to the departing coaches. He thanked Coates and Davies for their service, noting the key role they played in strengthening the pathway from the U23s to the senior Lionesses squad. "Together, they have directly impacted the development of many young players who have gone on to become senior Lionesses," Step said.
He confirmed that the search for their replacements has already begun, with the aim of continuing the growth of the Women's Under-23s setup. During Coates's tenure, several players have progressed to the England senior side, including midfielder Lucia Kendall – who scored on her debut against Ghana this week – and forwards Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones.
Coates now takes charge of a Bay FC team that showed promise in its 2024 debut season, finishing seventh and reaching the playoffs, before struggling to a second-bottom finish this year. The squad features world-record signing Racheal Kundananji, setting the stage for a challenging and high-profile rebuild in the NWSL.
