USF’s Fleck Has Unique Women’s
World Cup Perspective.
As an instructor at the U.S. Soccer National Coaching School, he first met current U.S Women’s coach April Heinrichs. And as a U.S. Soccer Federation National staff coach, he has often consulted with Heinrichs regarding soccer at the highest level of competition.
“When you’re at the top like that, you’re never in want of opinions,” Fleck said. “Everyone seems to know how to do things better. Yet, it’s a very lonely seat you sit on. There’s such pressure riding on every decision.”
Fleck said he has offered Heinrichs his opinions on players and tactics, but only when asked. “If she wants my opinion, she’ll call me,” he said.
The USF coach, now in his ninth season at the Conference-USA school in Tampa, has seen his share of top players, including current Norwegian World Cup team member Kristina Edner.
Edner played center midfielder from 1996-98 for the Bulls and still holds several school records. She is the sixth player that Fleck has coached to make a World Cup team. As the USF men’s coach during the mid-1990s, Fleck coached Mark Chung and Jeff Cunningham, both of whom have gone on to star for the MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team.
However, the pressure on the U.S. women’s team is far greater than that on the men’s team, Fleck said.
“The men are playing for money and contracts. But the women are playing for the very survival of their league. That’s incredible pressure,” he said.
Fleck said the timing of the announcement about the WUSA shutting down operations due to lack of funds just before the World Cup was intentional. And he believes the WUSA can be revived because of it.
“If you’re going to be told bad news, do you want it to be at the beginning of your birthday party or the end?” he said.
“Just as that league was born after the ’99 World Cup-and I was there when they exceeded the capacity of the Rose Bowl-this will absolutely be a financial impetus (for the league).
With his college team’s schedule in full swing, Fleck said he doubts he’ll be able to make it to any of this year’s World Cup games.
His twin sophomore sensations, fullback Mindy and midfielder Jenny Mulvihill of Lake Howell, said the World Cup inspired them. Both have won a pair of high school state championships and FYSA State Cups, as well as played for the state ODP team. But soccer at the highest level still captivates them.
“It makes you want to work harder,” Mindy said. “It’s hard being a college athlete, going to school, and juggling your life, family, everything. Adding national team training to that would be almost impossible, but it’s still definitely something I’d like to aspire to.”
“It’s a lot of work-a lot more than I’ve put in. You have to be very dedicated,” Jenny said.
Both said their biggest dream in high school was to make a Division I team, but to play for the WUSA someday was always in the back of their minds. Now, with that possibility seemingly out of the question, one has to ask if World Cup will be enough to reinvigorate women’s professional soccer.
“Did they go too high too quick?” Fleck asked. “No, they had their shot and they went for it. Now, they’re going to have another chance, and maybe they’ll make it this time.”