May 31st, 2024

Skyline Elite SC Hires New Girls Academy Director ­

Ashley Williams becomes new Director of Girls Academy for Skyline Elite Soccer Club.

Skyline Elite has hired Ashley Williams as the club’s Girls Academy Director.  Ashley will direct the girls side of the club, managing the six elite teams U13-U19 in the national Girls Academy League.  In addition to her role as Girls Director, Ashley will serve as head coach for two Skyline Elite teams in Fall 2024.

Williams comes to Skyline Elite via the Richmond United ECNL program in Richmond, VA.  She served as the Operations Manager and College Recruiting Coordinator there while also head coaching the U17 and U19 Richmond United Girls ECNL teams.  During her tenure, all 19 of Williams’ U19 players committed to college programs with 14 of the 18 U17 players currently committed.  She led both teams to postseason playoff appearances with the U19 team taking second in the Mid-Atlantic Region and qualifying for ECNL Champions League.  While at RU Williams also served as head coach of the Pre-Professional Richmond United Pro-23 team winning the league championship in 2021.

Prior to Richmond United, Williams served a stint in Raleigh, NC where she was Assistant Coach with the North Carolina Courage USL W League team while also head coaching two NCFC ECNL Girls teams.  Williams also served as the Women’s Assistant Coach at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA for four seasons helping to lead the Yellow Jackets to a program best 21-1-1 record and the ODAC championship in 2019.  While at Randolph Macon Williams was involved in all aspects of team training, player recruitment and student athlete development.

Williams played collegiately for four years at the Division 1 level for the University of Richmond.  She served as Team Captain during her tenure and logged the fourth most minutes played in program history.  She has a Master of Education in Sports Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently completing the USSF A-Youth License.

Skyline Elite was launched in 2020 as an outgrowth of the SOCA club and has been a part of the Virginia Soccer Alliance since 2021.  The club has a regional footprint drawing high achieving players from communities throughout western VA.  Skyline Elite is a pre-eminent club in the Mid-Atlantic region competing in the Girls Academy League, a national league of many of the most competitive clubs in the country.

You may welcome Ashley to the club at her email address:  [email protected].

New Girls Academy Director, Ashley Williams said:

“I am excited for the opportunity to join and lead a long-standing, nationally recognized youth soccer club like Skyline Elite.”

“As Skyline’s new Girls’ Academy Director, I look forward to the opportunity to work with players in and around the Charlottesville area who are determined to grow as individuals and driven to compete together at the highest level possible.”

“I’m eager to hit the ground running and lead the program in its pursuit of achieving excellence both on and off the field by cultivating positive relationships, building strong well-rounded women, and educating young soccer minds, all through the love of the game.”

Skyline Elite Technical Director, Jimmy Tharpe said:

“We are very excited to have Ashley as our new Girls Academy Director.  Ashley is a driven professional who will be a real positive role model for our female athletes.  Ashley’s experience in coaching at a high level and cultivating a competitive culture will continue to push our players to new heights.

Executive Director of the Virginia Soccer Alliance, Matt Wilson said:

“I enjoyed getting to know Ashley during our interview process and she emerged as the strongest candidate for the Girls Academy position.  Her experience is pertinent, and she comes with impressive energy and coaching acumen.  I believe she will be a great leader for our Skyline girls’ program and I look forward to supporting her as she takes the club to new heights.”