ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Pride on Tuesday named former U.S. national team member Amanda Cromwell as coach.

Cromwell, who is the team’s third coach, comes to the Pride from UCLA.

“After a comprehensive search process, Amanda’s tremendous accomplishments and experience as a head coach for one of the most respected women's college soccer programs in the country stood out,” Pride owner and Chairman Mark Wilf said. “We are fortunate to be able to bring Amanda’s track record of success in developing national, professional, and collegiate standouts, and her commitment and passion for the game of women's soccer to our Club. We are confident Amanda will be a terrific leader for the Pride moving forward."

Cromwell joined the Pride following a highly-respected 25-year head coaching tenure at the collegiate ranks. Over this time, the Annandale, Va. native compiled a 356-126-44 coaching record (.680 winning percentage).

In addition to the 2013 championship, which led to a 2014 Soccer America Coach of the Year honor, Cromwell also guided the Bruins to the 2017 College Cup Final. Cromwell was also named Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2020. 

Since joining UCLA in 2013, 20 of Cromwell’s Bruins have been selected in the National Women’s Soccer League Draft, including the Pride’s 2021 first-round pick Viviana Villacorta. 

Prior to the move to Los Angeles, Cromwell spent 14 seasons in Orlando as coach at the University of Central Florida. With the Knights, Cromwell led the team to four Atlantic Sun Tournament championships, four Conference USA regular-season titles, the 2012 C-USA tournament title and 11 NCAA tournament appearances, becoming the Conference USA Coach of the Year in 2009.  

“I am thrilled to lead this tremendous group of players and be part of a world-class club," Cromwell said. "The NWSL is a natural transition for me at this point in my career, and I am excited to return to the Central Florida soccer community."

As a player, Cromwell earned 55 caps with the U.S. Women’s National Team from 1991-98, where she was also a member of the 1995 bronze medal-winning squad and an alternate on the 1996 gold-medal team at the Atlanta Olympic Games. 

At the club level, Cromwell was an integral part in the establishment of women’s professional soccer in the United States, playing for the Washington Freedom, Atlanta Beat and San Jose CyberRays of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). Collegiately with the Cavaliers, Cromwell captained her team to the 1991 NCAA Final Four and was a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist that same season.