 Carter with theHouston Dash, August 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Haley Crain Carter | ||
| Date of birth | (1984-06-21)June 21, 1984 (age 40) | ||
| Place of birth | Friendswood, Texas, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2005 | Navy Midshipmen | 27 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Houston Dash | 0 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2014–2015 | Huston–Tillotson University (assistant) | ||
| 2015–2016 | Sam Houston State University (assistant) | ||
| 2016–2018 | Afghanistan (assistant) | ||
| 2019 | University of Houston (assistant) | ||
| 2019–2021 | Antigua and Barbuda (goalkeeper coach) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Haley Carter[1] (née Crain; born June 21, 1984) is a formerUnited States Marine Corps officer and retired American professional soccer player. She is currently the sporting director and vice president of soccer operations forOrlando Pride of theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
She is the former assistant coach for theAfghanistan women's national team and goalkeeper coach for theAntigua and Barbuda women's national team.[2]
Born and raised inFriendswood, Texas, Carter competed in three Texas high school state championships and was the starting goalkeeper of theFriendswood High School 2001 Texas 4A UIL State High School Championship team.[3] After graduating from high school in 2002, Carter played four years of NCAA Division I Women's Soccer at theUnited States Naval Academy.[4] Following her time at Navy, she spent nearly eight years in theUnited States Marine Corps and made multiple combat deployments in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom.[5]
While serving on active duty in the Marine Corps, Carter represented the United States in twoInternational Military Sports Council Women's Military World Soccer Championships (Ede, Netherlands – 2008,Cherbourg-Octeville, 2010).[6] In 2010, Carter was namedMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Female Athlete of the Year and finalist for theUnited States Marine Corps Female Athlete of the Year.[6] From 2010 to 2013, Carter was stationed in Hawaii and played semi-professionally for the Honolulu Bulls W1 Women's team, where she was teammates with future professional playerCaprice Dydasco.[7] Upon the end of her active service in 2013, Carter returned to Texas and spent the next three years as a reserve goalkeeper for theHouston Dash in theNational Women's Soccer League.[8] She made her only bench appearance for the team against theWashington Spirit on August 18, 2016, but did not feature in the match.[9]
While playing at Houston, Carter also served as a volunteer assistant coach for the women's soccer programs atHuston–Tillotson University andSam Houston State University.[10] She has served not only as assistant coach for theAfghanistan women's national football team[11] but also as an Olympic Development coach for South Texas Youth Soccer Association and the South Region (formerly Region III) of theUnited States Youth Soccer Association.[10] On November 10, 2016, Carter became the first female professional player to receive theFIFPro World Players Union Merit Award for her efforts coaching the Afghanistan women.[12] She used these funds to cover the teams expenses and participation in the 2016South Asia Football Federation Women's Championships.[13] During 2017, the team did not participate in any formal events due to budget constraints. They attended their first training camp of 2018 inAmman, Jordan, where they played two games against theJordanian Women's National Team.[14]
In November 2018, Carter and Afghanistan National Team head coach,Kelly Lindsey, were left off theAfghanistan Football Federation's delegation for theCentral Asian Football Association's Women's Championships. Their absence was accompanied by the simultaneous dismissal of multiple key players from the team, including its captain,Shabnam Mobarez. Shortly thereafter, the dismissed players released statements on social media that their dismissal was the result of a refusal to sign a player contract substantially limiting their rights as players and human beings.[15] Carter stated that the contract forced upon the players was deemed non-negotiable by the Afghan Federation, it was unconscionable, and that she could not support asking the players to take part.[16]
The contract has been linked to an effort to intimidate and silence the players and staff from publicly discussing allegations they made to the Afghanistan Football Federation detailing the sexual abuse of women players by male Federation members.[17] Documentation supporting the allegations was provided toHummel International, and on November 30, 2018, Hummel terminated their sponsorship with the Afghan Football Federation and immediately demanded the removal of its president, Kerim Kerramudin.[18] The allegations were investigated by both the Afghanistan Attorney General, Farid Hamidi, and theFIFA Ethics Committee. As of December 9, 2018, five members of the Afghan Football Federation, including its president, were suspended indefinitely following initial inquiries.[19] On June 8, 2019, following its investigation, FIFA announced a lifetime ban for Kerim Kerramudin and fined him 1,000,000 CHF for breaching article 23 (protection of physical and mental integrity) and article 25 (abuse of position) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.[20] On the following day, the Afghanistan Attorney General's office also issued an arrest warrant for Kerramudin although he remains at large.[21] The investigation of additional Afghanistan Football Federation officials is ongoing.
Following her departure from the Afghan Women's National Team, Carter was nominated to run for vice president of theUnited Soccer Coaches board of directors and although losing the election, was later appointed chair of the United Soccer Coaches Women Coaches Community.[22] In October 2019, Carter joinedLisa Cole's staff for theAntigua and Barbuda Women's National Team as a goalkeeper coach at the 2020CONCACAFCaribbean Football Union'sOlympic Qualifiers.[23]
In January 2023, Carter was appointed general manager and vice president of soccer operations forOrlando Pride of theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[24]
In addition to her degree from the Naval Academy, Carter earned an MBA with Distinction from theUniversity of Liverpool and a J.D. from theUniversity of Houston Law Center.[25] Her military awards and decorations include theDefense Meritorious Service Medal, theNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (w/ Gold Star in Lieu of Second Award), the Joint Unit Commendation Medal,Global War on Terrorism Medal, andIraqi Campaign Medal (w/ 3 Bronze Stars).[25] She is a LifetimeGirl Scouts member, a member of theGirl Scouts of Southwest Texas Juliette's Circle and theGirl Scouts of San Jacinto Council's 1912 Club, and volunteers in two communities in the San Jacinto Council.[26]
In 2017, she was admitted as anEY Women Athletes Business Network Mentee[27] and partnered with Major GeneralAngela Salinas, USMC (Ret). She participates in multiple women's groups including theInternational Women's Forum, the Women Marines Association, and the Houston Association of Women Attorneys.[26] She is also an executive board member of theGirls Academy League,Spirit of Soccer, and theU.S. Naval Academy TxGC Foundation.
Carter is also an outspoken advocate for the #VetsForGunReform campaign.[28] On May 23, 2018, City ofHouston MayorSylvester Turner appointed Carter to serve on his Commission Against Gun Violence, focusing on the development of policy recommendations for improving gun safety in area schools, neighborhoods, and communities.[29] Mayor Turner then named her chair of the commission on May 31, 2018.[30] Carter was also named to the City of HoustonWomen's Commission by Houston City Council in August 2021.[31] The Commission is tasked with advancing equality and equity for women in the City of Houston by identifying and addressing disparities in healthcare, employment, safety and security across communities and industries, both in Houston’s public and private sectors. Carter serves on the Commission's Pay Equity Committee.[32] In recognition of her work in business, professional sports, and service to the Greater Houston community, Carter was honored as aHouston Business Journal 40 Under 40 in August 2020.[33]
She is the namesake of theHouston Dash "Haley's Heroes" program honoring female veterans and servicemembers.[34]
Carter was named grand marshal of the 2022Friendswood, Texas, Independence Day parade but stepped down after a harassment campaign led by national conservative commentatorJesse Kelly, a Friendswood resident. Kelly and followers bullied city officials, criticizing Carter based on her perceived stance in favor of LGBT rights. Kelly posted a picture of Carter's son on social media.[35][36]