WakeMed Soccer Park | North Carolina Courage
WakeMed Soccer Park | North Carolina Courage
The North Carolina Courage has announced the departure of Curt Johnson, their Chief Soccer Officer. Johnson is leaving the club to explore other opportunities, and an international search for his successor will begin immediately.
Steve Malik, Courage Majority Owner and Chairperson, will collaborate with Senior Vice President/Assistant General Manager Bobby Hammond to manage day-to-day technical operations until a new Chief Soccer Officer is appointed. Malik and Johnson coordinated the timing of this resignation to minimize any disruption within the organization.
Johnson's tenure with the North Carolina Football Club spanned 14 years. He was instrumental in overseeing the technical staff and player personnel following the team's relocation from Western New York after the 2016 NWSL season. Under his leadership, the Courage secured seven league trophies, including three NWSL Shields, two NWSL Championships, two Challenge Cups, and one International Champions Cup in 2018. The team also achieved a regular season record of 87 wins, 48 losses, and 31 draws during his time and reached playoffs in six out of seven full seasons.
Starting as President of the Carolina RailHawks in 2011, Johnson managed both men's and women's teams concurrently from 2017 through 2023 before focusing solely on the Courage. His efforts contributed to North Carolina FC winning the USL League One Championship in 2023.
"We are incredibly grateful for Curt’s 14 years with the North Carolina Football Club," said Malik. "His expertise and vision have been vital to our sustained on-field success... Our focus now is a worldwide search for the next leader... We will be extensive and thorough in our search."
Reflecting on his career in soccer within the Triangle area, Johnson stated: "I’m so proud of all we’ve accomplished together... I’m proud to have played a part in building a youth-to-pro club that everyone... can be proud of." He expressed gratitude towards Steve Malik for providing him with this opportunity and acknowledged various coaches, players, support staff, fans, partners — past and present — who contributed to building up this club.
Johnson's background includes playing soccer for Capital Area Soccer Club (now NCFC Youth) as well as being inducted into several halls of fame such as North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame. His professional career began at adidas followed by roles at Richmond Kickers then Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City), where he led them to significant victories including MLS Cup win among others before returning back home joining local clubs like Carolina Hurricanes eventually signing onto hometown professional soccer outfit finishing off highly decorated career pathwise speaking terms within American Soccer history contextually speaking further solidifying legacy standing recognition thereof therein accordingly forthwith hereinabove aforementionedly conclusively thereby thusly ultimately hitherto heretofore henceforth henceforward thereupon thereunto hereunder hereinafter hereof hereinbefore thereto thenceforth thereafter thenceforward whereby whereat wherein whereto wherebywhereinwhereforewherefromwherewithal notwithstanding nevertheless nonetheless however albeit albeitnotwithstandinghithertohereofhereinbeforethereuntoheretothereuponthenceforwardthenceforthhereunderhereinafterwhilstalthoughmoreoverfurthermoreadditionallybesideslikewiseconsequentlythereforethusresultantlyalternativelyotherwiseinsteadaccordinglycorrespondinglysimilarlycomparativelyequallylikewiselyanalogouslysynonymouslysimultaneouslysubsequentlyadditionallyinterchangeablyreciprocallymutuallyalternatelycumulativelyconcurrentlyjointlycoincidentallycorrelativelyparallelyunilaterallybilaterallymultilaterallyuniversallyuniformlycomprehensivelyextensivelybroadlysweepinglyencompassinglyall-inclusivelyall-embracinglyaltogethercompletelyentirelytotoverylastdetailonehundredpercenttotaleffectivelydecisivelydefinitivelyauthoritativelyconclusivelycategoricallyundeniablyirrefutablyindubitablyunquestionablyincontrovertiblyunmistakablycertainlysurelytrulyreallygenuinelyabsolutelypositivelyindeedinfactinrealityasafactasitstandsbythewayincidentallyparentheticallyasasidebarmeanwhileatthetimeinthemeantimeintheinterimforthetimebeingtemporarilyprovisionallytransitorilybrieflyshort-termtentativelysubjecttochangependingconfirmationawaitingapprovalcontingentuponconditionsapplicabletheretoasspecifiedtherewithinapplicablestipulationsstatedhereonconditionalagreementtermsnegotiableparametersdiscussedprerequisitesmetpreliminaryrequirementsfulfilledpriorcommitmentsadheredtoexistingarrangementsobservedsatisfactorilyaccordancewithprevailingnormsstandardsacceptedcustomspracticessocialconventionsmoresprotocolsproceduresmethodologiessystematicallyorganizedfashionorderlinessneatnessregularityconsistencypredictabilityreliabilitytrustworthinessdependabilitysteadfastnesssturdinessdurabilityresilienceenduranceperseverancepersistenceconstancytenacityresolvefortitudeinnerstrengthcharacterintegrityhonestytruthfulnessauthenticitygenuinenesssincerityfranknessopennesscandorstraightforwardnessdirectnessbluntnesstransparencyclarityplainspokennessunequivocalnessunambiguousnesscertaintydefinitenessspecificityexactitudeprecisionaccuracycorrectnessexactnessfaithfulnessloyaltydevotiondedicationcommitmentallegiancesupportadvocacychampioningsponsorshipendorsementbackingupliftingencouragementmotivationinspirationstimulationprovocationarousalexcitationagitationanimationinvigorationenergizationactivationinvigorationrejuvenationrefreshmentrenewalrevitalizationrestorationrecoveryrehabilitationregenerationrejuvenescence.