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The Seattle Sounders Women announced on Tuesday that University of Washington head coach Lesle Gallimore would join the club as its new technical director.
"The Sounders organization provides and has provided a lot of positive influence in the Seattle soccer community, and I’m honored to be even a small part of that positive influence and growth," Gallimore said in a club press release.
Gallimore is the longest-tenured coach in the Pac-12 and two-time NSCAA West Region Coach of the Year. At UW, she has coached former Sounders Women players Hope Solo, Tina Ellertson, Veronica Perez and Kate Deines.
Her role will be somewhat limited due to NCAA regulations, as Gallimore will continue coaching the Huskies program. She will not coach at games or training, and the usual restriction allowing a maximum of five players from any one team to play for a summer team will still be in effect.
This is the first hiring the Seattle Sounders Women have made since announcing Teddy Mitalas as the club's new director of community relations on Oct. 9. The club is still without a general manager and head coach.