The U.S. women’s coach is living up to her predecessor’s lofty standards.
April Heinrichs stepped into a tough job.
Less than a year after the 1999 Women’s World Cup, she was hired to replace Tony DiCicco as national team coach and asked to keep the United States at the top of the sport. “It was almost a no-win situation for her,” says Kristine Lilly, who has played in more international games than anyone. “The only place she could go was down if we didn’t keep winning.”
Under DiCicco, the U.S. women won the 1996 Olympics in dramatic fashion. And they won the ’99 World Cup in even more dramatic fashion.
Heinrichs has retooled the American squad, making it deeper and more versatile, with a superb blend of youth and experience. The United States is ranked No. 1 in the world and is fresh off a physically dominant 1-0 victory over Norway in the World Cup quarterfinals.
With a semifinal victory Sunday, Heinrichs will have guided the team to another Cup final.
“It’s a big challenge every day,” says Heinrichs, the first U.S. national team captain, a member of the 1991 world champions and a National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. “But I have always lived for such challenges.”
Heinrichs, 39, admits she has had to change some things in her move from star player to career coach. But one thing has not been altered. “It still is very personal to me when we lose. Very personal,” she says.
“You work so hard to compete at a very high level, to be respected and to achieve. When you don’t (win), it doesn’t get any easier as a coach.”
Indeed, Heinrichs was haunted by the 2000 Olympics loss. In her first major tournament as coach, the Americans took the silver. That defeat to Norway came after DiCicco led them to Olympic gold and a world title.
At first, Heinrichs wondered if she was the reason the United States lost at Sydney. But instead of continuing to doubt herself and her methods, she set about retooling the team, aiming directly at this World Cup and next year’s Athens Olympics.
The results, beginning in 2002, have been excellent. The United States went 15-2-2 last year and is 15-1-3 this season. The 2003 record includes wins over Norway, Sweden, Brazil, China, Germany and Canada – the best competition available.
But there is more than the scoreboard tally to Heinrichs’ work. Much more.
When she was chosen over a handful of candidates to succeed DiCicco, Heinrichs stressed her background as a national team player. That was important to the current players, too.
“April has a good understanding of what we go through as players,” says Scurry, who has resurrected her career after Heinrichs left her off the team in 2001. “She played for the team, she has a history with some of us, and she knows when we need rest or need a push.”
Scurry needed a huge push after falling out of shape and losing her edge following the 1999 World Cup. By the Sydney Games, Scurry was the backup to goalkeeper Siri Mullinix.
But Heinrichs never closed her mind about Scurry, who now is operating at peak efficiency.
“April left the door open for me, and I made sure I went through it,” Scurry says.
Heinrichs didn’t forget about Shannon MacMillan after the speedy forward tore knee ligaments in a WUSA game. She encouraged MacMillan during 31/2 months of rehab that often takes more than a year.
MacMillan displayed strong form in workouts for Heinrichs in late August and was chosen for the World Cup team.
Heinrichs took over a strong defensive team with an attacking style. Now the Americans are better than ever in the air – even without the towering Akers, who retired because of health problems and the likelihood she could not meet Heinrichs’ demands for making the current squad.
The U.S. women also have become very dangerous on set plays, particularly corner kicks from Hamm, Lilly or MacMillan. That had been a weakness.
Heinrichs isn’t afraid to put untested youngsters in the spotlight. When Chastain broke her foot in the opening game against Sweden, Heinrichs turned to Cat Reddick, the only collegian on the roster. Reddick has been sensational.
Shannon Boxx, who made the World Cup squad despite never having played an international game, became a starter in this tournament. She, too, has played superbly.
Perhaps most significantly, Heinrichs did not tinker with the team’s camaraderie.
“Tony built the team like a family,” Lilly says. “April has gotten that togetherness, too. Chemistry and playing for each other has been a huge part of this team. It still is.”
AP-ES-10-04-03 1628EDT
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