April Heinrichs,
Senior Contributor

April Heinrichs captained the US Women's National Team to win the first ever Women's FIFA World Cup in 1991. In 1998 she became the first female player inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

She also helped the USWNT to a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics as an assistant coach and to winning the FIFA World Cup in 1999 as a scout. As the head coach, she led the USWNT to a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics, 3rd place in the 2003 FIFA World Cup, and a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

She has served US soccer in numerous coaching, scouting, analysis and directorial roles throughout her career, furthering her immeasurable contributions to women's soccer.

Among her roles, achievements, and awards:

Coaching Career

2004 Olympic Games - Gold Medal; 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup - 3rd Place; 2000 Olympic Games - Silver Medal; 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup – Champions; 1996 Olympic Games - Gold Medal; 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup - 3rd Place; U. S. Olympic Committee ‘Coach of the Year’ Finalist – 2005; 4 Nations Cup Coach of the Tournament – 2003; Colorado Sports Hall of Fame - Inducted 2005; Sports Women of Colorado - Sports Woman of the Year – 2005; Atlantic Coast Conference - Coach of the Year - 1995; NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region - Coach of the Year - 1995

Playing Career

Captain U.S. Women’s National Team - 1986-1991; FIFA Women’s World Cup 1991 – Champions; U.S. Soccer National Soccer Hall of Fame - Inducted 1998; U. S. Soccer Federation Player of the Year - 1986 & 1989; Soccer America Magazine Player of the Decade - 1980’s; 2nd Place - Italian 1st Division Professional Women’s Soccer – 1989; 3-Time Division I NCAA National Champion; 4-Time NSCAA College All-America; 4-Time University of North Carolina Team MVP

Lifetime Achievement Awards

U.S. Soccer - Werner Fricker Award – 2019; United Soccer Coaches - Presidential Recognition Award - 2019