Lexington

Veteran coach brings extensive experience, including serving as coach in U.S. youth national team ranks

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club announced today it has appointed Michael Dickey as Head Coach for the organization’s USL Super League team ahead of its inaugural season kicking off in August, 2024. Dickey comes to the club with a deep knowledge and understanding of women’s soccer, bringing extensive previous coaching experience.

“We are incredibly excited to bring Mike on board to the Lexington Sporting Club family,” said Lexington SC co-owner Stephen Dawahare. “The USL Super League is an opportunity for us to bring women’s soccer to the Lexington community on a very large stage, and we believe with his background in the sport and his dedication to his craft, Mike is the best man to lead us in this exciting time.”

Dickey brings an illustrious coaching background, notably serving as the Head Coach for the Jordan Football Association Senior Women’s National Team (2017-2018). During his time at the helm, the side competed in the 2018 Asian Cup, marking only its second appearance in the tournament’s final stage. That year, the side achieved its highest ranking in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, entering the Top 50 for the first time.

The 60-year-old has also previously coached in the United States Youth National Team ranks, including serving as an assistant coach for the U-17 WNT at the 2008 Women’s U-17 World Cup where the side finished second. Dickey’s coaching expertise contributed significantly to nurturing talent in the youth ranks, with Crystal Dunn, Kristie Mewis, Sam Mewis, Andi Sullivan, Morgan Gautrat, Midge Purce, and Jane Campbell among the players he coached who progressed to represent the United States Women’s National Team at the senior level.

Dickey most recently resided in Louisville, Ky., where he served as the Director of Coaching & Player Development at Mockingbird Valley Premier SC. Here, Dickey designed and implemented development programs for coaching staff and players while ensuring adherence to strategic player development approaches during coaching sessions.

Lexington Sporting Club’s decision to appoint Dickey reflects its dedication to securing top-tier talent capable of steering the Super League team to unparalleled success.

As the new Head Coach, Dickey will spearhead a comprehensive coaching program, leveraging his global experience to elevate the performance standards and overall growth of the club’s athletes.

“I want to thank Bill Shively, Stephen Dawahare and Michelle Rayner for providing me with this opportunity to come to Lexington and be a part of such an amazing program,” said Dickey.

“Being a part of the inaugural season with the USL Super League is such a unique opportunity, and I am excited to be a part of a new piece of history and opportunity for women’s sports.”

We caught up with LSC’s Women’s Head Coach, a former New Zealand international, for her WWC thoughts and memories

The USL Super League recently connected with Michelle Rayner, a former New Zealand National Team player who represented the country at the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Now, Rayner is the head coach at Lexington SC where she coaches the club’s USL W League team and soon-to-kickoff USL Super League team, which is set to compete in the league’s inaugural season kicking off in August 2024.

With the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup taking place in New Zealand and Australia, Michelle is able to contribute a unique perspective on the game both in the U.S. and internationally, as well as provide insight into the World Cup, her experiences playing at the highest level, and what to expect from the USWNT during their time in New Zealand.

Super League: What is your earliest memory of the Women’s World Cup?

Michelle Rayner: The very first one was when New Zealand qualified for the [1991] Women’s World Cup in China. The feeling of playing on the largest stage in Women’s Football and being only one of the 12 countries to qualify was massive. We were outclassed early on as other countries had the ability to identify and choose from a number of players that had experience playing at higher level in their respective countries than what we had available to us in New Zealand. Soccer was still a growing sport, popular, but growing. That said, it’s an absolute honor to have the ability to play a sport at a high level, let alone represent your National Team.

SL: Who is your favorite women’s soccer player of all time, and why?

MR: I’m not sure I’ve ever had a “favorite” female player aside from my own teammates growing up. We didn’t have the technology that is available today where you have the ability to get on social media, websites, TV, etc. and pull up a video or article on your favorite player. So, my teammates were my role models. At the same time, I was dialed in to become the best player I could be. 

I was 13 at the time, I had played one game of field hockey and got hit in the head with either the ball or the stick and thought “nope, this sport isn’t for me!” Then about a week later, the head coach of the Taupo Women’s Soccer team arrived on my front doorstep with a uniform and asked if I was interested in playing football. The rest is history! As we continued down the path of making strides into representing my region and winning a National Championship with Waikato in NZ, then progressing through the youth national team ranks, you gain knowledge of women’s soccer players worldwide. Names like Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers and other well-known players started to filter through to our side of the world and became women’s players that were at the highest level of this game.  

More than anything, I enjoy watching all females compete within the game of football. Seeing them on any stage, at any level, at any age, working on their craft in training and then showcasing their ability on the field in matches is inspirational. That’s why we do this, right? To leave a pathway and a legacy for others to grasp hold of the opportunity and dream big!  

SL: What are you most excited about heading into this year’s WWC?

MR: I am most excited to see all the countries that I’ve lived in do as well as they can while competing on the highest stage. I have a heart for each one of them. Obviously, New Zealand is home, so to see them compete and really have some goals which are obtainable is exciting. I’ve got a friend who is in on the NZ staff with them and they’ve spoken about their goals: One is to win a game, two is to get out of the group (neither of these have been achieved in NZ WWC history), and third to leave a legacy for young female players coming through. 

The next country, Australia also holds a special place in my heart. I played there for four years and also won a National Championship there representing New South Wales. I’ve made a lot of friends who played at the highest level at that time for the Matildas who I played alongside within my club team and New South Wales team. Both countries are beautiful … it’ll be a little chilly down there as they’re opposite in terms of seasons and are in winter, which is good for the players, but spectators will have to bundle up to watch matches!  

England is where I lived and played next, for Millwall – a different country altogether with a rich history and heritage of the game of football for sure. My dad is English, so I have dual citizenship and had the privilege of being able to play in England for a few years. Then finally, the USA where I’ve lived now for the majority of my life and career in this game. I have had the opportunity to coach so many players, both women and men, and have won many matches, state championships, 3v3 National champs back-to-back, collegiate coaching career at extremely successful colleges. I’ve been involved with U.S. Soccer as a scout within their youth program and coach at youth national team training centers … so all the things. I’m blessed beyond compare, to be fair, to still be involved at this game at this stage of my life and with what we’re doing in Lexington, KY at Lexington Sporting Club. 

So, my excitement for this WWC is right up there. I’m excited to see the matches, excited to see how both countries host all the nations and excited to see the support of the fans to ensure crowds at all games will be impactful.  

SL: How will the expansion to 32 teams impact the WWC?

MR: It will be interesting for sure. It started with 12 teams, then went to 24, and now with the inclusion of an additional eight teams, more countries are afforded the opportunity to participate in this FIFA Women’s World Cup. It’s an amazing experience for every player, staff member and fan. It just reinforces the movement of women in sport and the progressive nature on how it’s evolving quickly. These players are amazing with such talent. Whether teams are only there through the group stage then depart or whether they advance – it’s a moment in history that everyone will remember forever.  

SL: What did New Zealand’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup victory mean to you as a former New Zealand National Team Player?

MR: Many emotions really! It’s been a long time coming, we’ve had some closer games in previous WWC’s so I believe there is a mindset that the Football Ferns are a team that isn’t too far away from beginning to gain real recognition through their development. To gain that first win and the emotions and joy that come from a win in the WWC and to do so in our home nation as co-hosts is something the players and staff will never forget and hopefully the fans and people of NZ truly get behind and understand what an amazing achievement that is.  

The goals the NZ women’s program wanted to achieve in this WWC is to 1. Get their first win; 2. Get out of group play; 3. To leave a legacy for young girls in New Zealand (and globally) that aspire to play for the women’s national team.  

NZ is a small country, with a population of approximately 5 million people. To put that in perspective New York has a population of approximately 8.4 million people! Women’s soccer is gaining popularity throughout New Zealand as well as globally, so the fact that this team was able to get their first win is a massive achievement and something that they will continue to build on. 

SL: What are your thoughts on the US Women’s National Team’s chances to win a third straight title?

MR: You never overlook the United States to perform on the highest stage at any event throughout the world. They deserve to have that recognition and their history speaks for itself in all global competitions. They’ve been amazing ambassadors to the sport since its inception. But – and I say this with all the respect in the world – other countries have evolved and improved through talent level through facility improvement, through greater financial resources and support from their respective countries and federations. Not all of them – as we know, some are still struggling with support and resources from their countries – but because of the number of women’s leagues globally now that these players are able to compete in, it’s just increased the opportunity. That in turn has advanced many more players quickly both technically and tactically to play at a higher level.  

It’ll be interesting, the U.S. has some key players out of this WWC, but what I do like and what I think they’ve done very well is integrate younger talented players into this squad … something that they’ve been implementing and working on for a long time now to allow these young players center stage to showcase their talents and potentially give the United States a three-peat!