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Emma Coates has left her position as the leader of England Women’s Under-23 national team to become the new head coach of the NWSL side Bay FC.
Coates replaces Albertin Montoya, who was the coach of the expansion team when it entered the National Women’s Soccer League two years ago. Montoya announced in September that he would resign at the end of the 2025 season, with the San Jose side finishing 13th in the 14-team table.
The 34-year-old Coates has coached the England U23 team since 2023, most recently overseeing a 1-0 European U23 League win over Norway and a 4-2 friendly defeat to the United States. Her England assistant, Gemma Davies, who previously managed Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League, will join her at Bay FC.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the [English] FA,” Coates said. “It has helped shape me both professionally and personally. Now, I feel ready and excited to challenge myself in a new environment. I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at the FA for their trust, support, and belief throughout my journey.”
Kay Cossington, the CEO of Bay Collective and former FA women’s technical director, said: “Emma is not only an excellent coach, but she also has a proven track record of developing players to compete at the highest levels of both the domestic and international game.
“She [Coates] is an outstanding leader of people and culture and has the football vision we were looking for,” Cossington added. “Emma has consistently demonstrated an ability to bring players and teams to the next level with clarity, care and purpose.”
Bay FC finished in seventh place in 2024, losing in the playoffs to Washington Spirit in its debut season before finishing second-bottom of the table this season.
The new FA women’s technical director, Gavin Step, said: “We thank Emma and Gemma for their time with us and wish them all the best with their new challenge. Emma, with Gemma’s support, has played a key role in strengthening the pathway between the WU23s and the senior squad, as well as the younger age groups.”
“Together, they have directly impacted the development of many young players who have gone on to become senior Lionesses, and helped to re-establish the WU23s as a team that fans want to watch wherever they play across the country.
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“We are excited to see the Women’s Under 23s set-up continue to grow over the coming years and have already begun the search for their replacements,” Step concluded.
Since replacing Mo Marley as Under-23 coach in 2023, Coates has seen a number of players progress to the England senior side, including midfielder Lucia Kendall – who scored her debut Lionesses goal against Ghana on Tuesday – as well as forwards Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones.
