U.S. Soccer News: One-on-One with Randy Waldrum, U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team Head Coach

Randy Waldrum has recently become head coach of the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team, the oldest age group of the USA’s five youth women’s national teams and the feeder team for the U.S. Women’s National Team. 

Waldrum is one of the most respected and well-known college coaches in America. Currently the head women’s soccer coach at the University of Notre Dame, Waldrum has coached for 30 seasons in college soccer and is one of the most successful college coaches in history. With an extremely high winning percentage (third all-time high among women’s soccer coaches), Waldrum is a strong advocate of player development and not the win-at-all-cost mentality.

The U-23s serve a vitally important role in helping bridge the large gap between college soccer and the national team. 

The U-23s generally focus on calling up a mix of professionals and college players in the early part of the year before turning attention to college-based players for the remainder of the spring and into the summer, as that time period falls during the heart of the WPS season. 

The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team began its year of activity with a training camp in Sarasota, Florida, which has just concluded. This was the first training camp under Randy Waldrum. 

SNN: Thanks for making time for SoccerNationNews - How was U23 Camp?

Randy Waldrum: Camp was great. It was my first time seeing this pool of players. The kids were great. The player pool was a good blend of WPS and top college players.

SNN: What is your goal for the U23 team?

Randy Waldrum: This age group does not have a World Cup like the younger ages (U17s and U20s), and we want to prepare them for the U.S. Women’s National Team. One of our goals is to provide the players with international experience. Another is to hone their skills and help players improve.

SNN: How has the Women’s development program changed?

Randy Waldrum: The mission has changed since April Heinrichs and Jill Ellis joined US Soccer. April Heinrichs became Technical Director and has brought her vision to vertically integrate all teams up to the U.S. Women’s Team. This has been huge. Implementing a single and consistent style of play has been a big adjustment.

SNN: Is this a critical step for the success of women’s soccer?

Randy Waldrum: Yes. Each team used to have its own system. All playing is now the same - the same style of play with a direct line of communication to the U.S. National Team’s head coach, Pia Sundhage.

The U23s are players that we look to move forward. They are players who are coming out of college or playing at the WPS, and we provide international playing experience. We want to use this age group as a real tool for the national team.

Pia Sundhage is involved with the younger developmental teams, and there is better communication than before.

The U15 through U23 teams are now all playing the same style of soccer. This has been a huge adjustment and gives us a real chance to train consistently and focus on developing players.

SNN: The players do not have to start adjusting to a new system with each different coach?

Randy Waldrum: That’s right. It used to be that whoever was in charge brought in their own style of player and their buddies to coach. Each coach would have their unique style they were familiar and most comfortable with.

SNN: Could players passed up the ladder experience a very inconsistent series of soccer styles?

Randy Waldrum:  Yes. April changed all that, and we all play the 4-3-3 system or the 4-3-2-1, which is a variation on the same style.

SNN: Will Pia Sundhage select players for the U.S. Women’s National Team from your U23s?

Randy Waldrum: It is highly likely. Pia can pull anyone she likes from any team, such as the U20s for instance, but in theory, you would like to think that the U23s are getting prepared for the full team. We will see more after the Olympics.

SNN:  What is your greatest challenge taking over the U23s?

Randy Waldrum: Time. I just left the camp and 24 players. In late February, the U23s will play Spain, England and France. So my biggest challenge is time. Time to see the players and get ready for our first event. Soon, camps will be every month and I will be able to get a handle on the complete player pool.

SNN: How will you select your team for this first event?

Randy Waldrum: I will pick several WPS players, as they are available, and take a look at the top collegiate players and decide on the roster.

SNN: Are you looking to grow the player pool?

Randy Waldrum: Yes, we want to increase the player pool size. I will look for recommendations from college coaches and continue to look at new faces. I know I will be looking at videos of kids.

SNN: What are important traits for your team?

Randy Waldrum: Every player at this level has great technical skills. Coachability gives players an edge. The ability to adapt is important as players may come in and be asked to play a different style or form of soccer. At the end of the day, the question really is, does the player fit the characteristics for our national team? 

Responsibility, accountability, plus the willingness to be part of a team and not be the star. It is about finding those special and talented players who will fit into the team.

SNN: Who are your favorite coaches?

Randy Waldrum: I have had a few mentors. Eric Nordstrom from Sweden was my first coach and introduced me to the game of soccer. I owe him so much. He instilled in me a great passion for soccer.  

Another favorite, Simon Sanchez, was the single biggest influence outside of my dad. He was a father figure and helped me play pro soccer.

Another great mentor was FC Dallas' head coach Schellas Hyndman, who introduced me to college soccer.

SNN: When did you first play soccer?

Randy Waldrum: I was a latecomer. I grew up in Dallas and there wasn’t soccer in my city when I was young. I started playing soccer in 1968 when I was 12.

SNN:  You have helped women’s soccer flourish in America and raised the level of play significantly. What do you think of youth soccer today?

Randy Waldrum: I never would have dreamed youth soccer would have grown so much. When I started, I never thought you could make your living coaching full time.

SNN: How do you inspire players?

Randy Waldrum: My goal is to push my players to be the best they can be.

It is easy to be that coach who just cares about winning. You want to be the coach that inspires competition and the love of the game.

Soccer needs to be fun for the players.

You want players to be excited when they step on the soccer field, and you want to prepare these young adults with life lessons.

When I was young, it was hard not to worry about being judged by my wins. Now, years later, I know the picture is bigger and more complex.

SNN: Thank you Coach. That was terrific.

More facts on Coach Randy Waldrum: 

In 13 seasons at Notre Dame, Waldrum has guided the Fighting Irish to a 263-44-14 overall record, while making it to eight NCAA College Cups and five national championship matches. He advanced to the NCAA College Cup in 2000, 2007 and 2009, had runner-up finishes in 1999, 2006 and 2008 and won NCAA titles in 2004 and 2010. His teams have won 11 Big East regular season titles and seven Big East tournament titles.

As a player, Waldrum earned all-district honors all four years of his playing career at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, graduating in 1981 as a physical education major and political science minor. He then played professionally for the Los Angeles Skyhawks and the Indianapolis Daredevils of the American Soccer League.

Related Article: Waldrum New US U23 WNT Coach