CARY, N.C. (Jan. 23, 2024) – The North Carolina Courage today announces multi-year contract extensions for full-time assistant coaches Nathan Thackeray and Emma Thomson, keeping them on Sean Nahas’ staff through the 2024 NWSL season and beyond.
The contract extensions ensure the same full-time staff, with Thackeray and Thomson alongside fellow assistants Fabrice Gautrat and Victoria Boardman, returns under Nahas from the 2023 Challenge Cup championship team that also finished third in the NWSL regular season. The 2023 Courage set single-season records in several possession and passing categories, led the NWSL with 10 regular season clean sheets, and allowed the second-fewest goals with 22.
“I am excited to have both Nathan and Emma remain with the club as they have played a very big part in what we are building here. It was a priority for me this off-season to see the club keep them and I’m thrilled we’ve taken the necessary steps to do so. I look forward to working alongside both again this season and the foreseeable future. It’s important to have people that I trust on staff, and Nathan and Emma have my full confidence. It’s a good day for us as a club knowing we can keep this staff together,” said Nahas.
Thackeray has been on the Courage’s staff as an assistant and goalkeeper coach since 2017, the team’s first season in North Carolina after relocating from Western New York. He has helped the Courage continuously boast top-tier goalkeeping, playing a critical role in the growth and development of keepers Katelyn Rowland, who has more NWSL trophies than any other player in league history, and United States Women’s National Team keeper Casey Murphy. He has been on staff for all eight trophies won by the Courage, including a league-most seven NWSL trophies.
“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the Courage since its inception in 2017, and I’m delighted to extend our time together for three more years. I’ve been excited by the continued growth and evolution of the club over the past seven years and know that this is a place where I can continue to develop as both a coach and person while being given the platform to make an impact. I’m thankful for the club, the staff and the players for putting their trust in me. I look forward to embracing the work and challenges alongside them. Let’s go Courage,” Thackeray said.
Thackeray also worked with the NCFC youth and academy programs from 2016 to 2021. During that half-decade with the club, he helped develop 24 intercollegiate players, six homegrown contract signees, and eight players to earn regular integration with either men’s or women’s professional teams.
Thackeray was on the University of North Carolina women’s soccer staff from 2021 through 2023 as goalkeeper coach on Anson Dorrance’s staff, helping the Tar Heels to a National Finalist finish in the 2022 campaign. He began his coaching career in 2011 as a goalkeeping coach of the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Young Harris College in Georgia. From there he became the Head of Goalkeeping at the Houston Dynamo Academy where he also coached the Houston Aces. In 2016, Thackeray became the Director of Goalkeeping at NCFC Youth.
Thomson was promoted to a full-time assistant with the Courage prior to the 2022 season. Prior to her promotion, Thomson worked as an assistant coach during the 2021 season while coaching with the NC Courage Girls Academy since June of 2020.
“I’m very happy to be back with the Courage. This is a special group of players, coaches, and staff and I’m thrilled to continue to work with them and represent the club. We’ve built an amazing team environment over the last two years, and I look forward to continuing to grow a championship culture here in North Carolina,” Thomson said.
Thomson boasts a wealth of coaching experience at many different levels. Her coaching career began at St. John’s (NY) followed by a six-year stint as the Assistant Women’s Coach at George Mason University in Virginia. While there, she was active with youth clubs in the area including Braddock Road Youth Club and FC Virginia’s Development Academy prior to joining NCFC Youth.
Originally from Nottinghamshire, England, Thomson moved to the US in 2008 to attend Penn State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. A four-year starter and two-year captain for Penn State Women’s soccer, Thomson helped the Nittany Lions to four NCAA Tournament appearances, collecting four Big Ten Championships and one Big Ten Tournament Championship and was named the 2011 Defender of the Year.
In addition to Thackeray and Thomson, assistants Fabrice Gautrat and Victoria Boardman are both still under contract and will return to the Courage sidelines in 2024. Full biographies of the Courage technical staff can be found here.
ABOUT THE NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE
The North Carolina Courage begin their eighth season of competition in 2024 since beginning play in the National Women’s Soccer League (USSF Division I) in 2017. The Courage were formed after Steve Malik purchased the Western New York Flash and relocated the franchise to Cary, North Carolina, and play their home games at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Courage are the winningest club in NWSL history, claiming seven league trophies as three-time NWSL Shield winners (2017, 2018, 2019), two-time NWSL Champions (2018, 2019), and two-time UKG NWSL Challenge Cup champions (2022, 2023). The Courage also won the 2018 ICC Championship. Follow the Courage on the web at www.nccourage.com and on social media @TheNCCourage.
