D.C. United academy coach Tom Torres becomes head of Washington Spirit’s Girls DA program in Virginia

The Washington Spirit named D.C United academy coach Tom Torres to lead the NWSL club’s Virginia-based U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy. The newly-formed league will start play this fall. The Spirit are also running a program in Maryland with Spirit assistant coach Denise Reddy in charge.

Torres was with D.C. United academy for the past 10 years, where he coached teams in United’s Pre-Academy program (U12-15) in addition to the U18 team. Torres joined United in 2007 and was heavily involved in creating the Pre-Academy program in 2009. In 2011, he began coaching the U16 team and finished his tenure with the Black-and-Red as a U18 head coach and assistant coach to the U23 team.

The Spirit’s Virginia-based development academy program had several planned partnerships with Loudoun Soccer, Braddock Road Youth Club, and Arlington Soccer fall through before eventually partnering with Reston Soccer.

The program will have four teams in Virginia: U14, U15, U17, and U19.

Ryan Martin, United’s Director of Youth Development, will coach the Black-and-Red’s U18 team in addition to his roles with the U-23 and U-16 team.

Torres will also serve as an assistant coach to the pro team, but his main role with the Spirit will be with the development academy program, per a Spirit spokesperson.