(December 17, 2001)

Courtemanche Named VP of Communications

ATLANTA GA (December 17, 2001) Women’s United Soccer Association President and CEO Lynn Morgan announced today that Dan Courtemanche has been named vice president of communications for the league. 

With more than 11 years of experience in sports public relations and marketing on his resume, Courtemanche will oversee the media and public relations for the WUSA league office. His primary responsibility will be to strategically generate media coverage and promotional opportunities for the second-year league. In addition, he will serve as the WUSA’s lead spokesperson, manage the general public relations activities of the league’s eight teams and serve as executive editor of all WUSA publications.

Courtemanche, 33, joins the WUSA league office staff after spending the past six years managing the communications department for Major League Soccer, where he served as director of communications from 1995 to 1999 and vice president of communications from 1999 until joining the WUSA. Prior to working at MLS, he spent three years (1993-1996) as the director of public relations of the Continental Indoor Soccer League in Los Angeles.

Courtemanche began his career in 1990 with Atlanta-based sports marketing firm Strategic Sports Specialists (now a part of Octagon), where he spent three years managing public relations and promotional campaigns for clients such as the Atlanta Attack indoor soccer club, the inaugural Bruno’s Memorial Classic Senior PGA Tour event, MasterCard and Taylor Made Golf.

“The addition of Dan to our league office staff will help the WUSA build its profile among all of our constituents,” Morgan said. “His unparalleled experience in soccer public relations and marketing provide the WUSA with added credibility with the mainstream media.”

A resident of the Atlanta area from 1984-1993, Courtemanche is a 1990 graduate of the University of Georgia, where he earned a bachelor of business administration in marketing. He will relocate to Atlanta area later this month.

Following a successful inaugural season, the WUSA recently relocated its league headquarters from New York City to Atlanta. Morgan expects to have all staff positions at the league office filled in the near future.

Featuring the best women’s soccer players in the world, the eight WUSA teams are the Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Carolina Courage, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spirit, San Jose CyberRays and the Washington Freedom. The 2002 WUSA season is scheduled to kick off in mid-April.

[Souce:  WUSA.com]