Denise Reddy leaves Washington Spirit to become Sky Blue FC’s head coach

Washington Spirit assistant coach Denise Reddy will leave the Spirit to become head coach at Sky Blue FC. Reddy joined the Spirit alongside current head coach Jim Gabarra in 2016 after coaching for several years in Europe and as an assistant coach for the WPS-era Chicago Red Stars. Washington will look for a new top assistant coach, per a team press release.

For the Spirit, Reddy mainly focused on the backline. She was also the technical director of the Spirit’s Baltimore-based Development Academy program, a role the Spirit are also pursuing a replacement for. Washington operates two Development Academy programs, one based in Maryland and the other out of Virginia. The two programs are currently in their inaugural seasons.

Sky Blue’s former head coach, Christy Holly, resigned during 2017 season. Reddy will be Sky Blue’s third head coach in the NWSL era. Spirit head coach Jim Gabarra was Holly’s predecessor before leaving to take over at the Soccerplex. Adding to the connections between the teams, Reddy’s college playing career was spent at Rutgers, where Sky Blue’s home field is.

Seattle Reign head coach Laura Harvey recently resigned to take up a position with US Soccer, so Reddy will be the only female head coach in the NWSL.