May 27, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Pride head coach Amanda Cromwell before the game against the Washington Spirit at Exploria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Pride announced Tuesday that the head coach and first assistant coach have been placed on leave.
In a statement released by the Orlando Pride Tuesday morning, the club announced head coach Amanda Cromwell and first assistant coach Sam Greene had been placed on leave effective immediately.
The announcement came the same day the National Women’s Soccer League announced it was investigating the two coaches for “alleged retaliation in violation of the NWSL Policy to Prevent and Eliminate Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying.”
“It was a surprise to me. I have a good relationship with Amanda,” Hue Menzies, a local youth soccer coach with Florida Kraze Krush, said.
Menzies says he knows Cromwell and many of the Pride players personally.
“I hope everything works out instead of it being a disaster because the league itself has been going through its ups and downs,” Menzies said.
Just last year, five of the NWSL’s ten head coaches were either fired or forced to resign due to a variety of issues.
The Pride says it is cooperating with the league’s investigation, adding, “providing a respectful environment and adhering to all league policies are of the utmost priority for the Pride.”
The Pride has appointed one of their assistant coaches, Seb Hines, as interim head coach while this investigation continues.
This investigation comes in the middle of what has already been a tough season for the Pride.
They are ranked ninth out of twelve teams in the league.
Their next game is this Sunday.
