CARY, N.C. (Dec. 11, 2024) – The North Carolina Courage today announce that Chief Soccer Officer Curt Johnson has decided to leave the club to pursue other opportunities. An international search for his replacement will begin immediately.
Courage Majority Owner and Chairperson Steve Malik will work with Senior Vice President/Assistant General Manager Bobby Hammond to oversee day-to-day technical operations until the position is filled. Johnson and Malik collaborated on the timing of the resignation to minimize the disruption to the organization.
Johnson spent 14 years with the North Carolina Football Club and worked with the Courage since the relocation to North Carolina from Western New York following the 2016 NWSL season, overseeing the technical staff and player personnel that have won an NWSL-best seven league trophies. Under Johnson, the Courage have won three NWSL Shields, a pair of NWSL Championships, and two Challenge Cups, plus the 2018 International Champions Cup. Overall, the Courage held a regular season record of 87W-48L-31D during Johnson’s tenure and reached the playoffs in six of seven full seasons.
Johnson originally joined the club as President of the Carolina RailHawks in 2011 and worked with the men’s and women’s teams concurrently from 2017 through 2023, helping North Carolina FC to the 2023 USL League One Championship, before shifting his focus solely on the Courage.
“We are incredibly grateful for Curt’s 14 years with the North Carolina Football Club. His expertise and vision have been vital to our sustained on-field success, and he’ll leave a legacy with the solid foundation that the Courage laid under his tutelage. His tireless effort and commitment have paved the way for a bright future, and he will forever be intertwined with the history of our club. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Our focus now is a worldwide search for the next leader of our technical staff who will fit our culture and vision to build upon our successes. We will be extensive and thorough in our search to ensure we find the right fit,” said Malik.
“As I reflect on my nearly 50 year involvement in soccer here in the Triangle, I’m so proud of all we’ve accomplished together. Soccer was unknown to most when I started playing and the soccer community has poured their blood, sweat, and tears into growing the game. I’m proud to have played a part in building a youth-to-pro club that everyone in the Triangle and the state of North Carolina can be proud of.
“The Courage have experienced unparalleled on-field success, but the most fulfilling part of my tenure is the relationships with incredible people I’ve been blessed to work with and grow alongside. This club has come so far, both on and off the field, and to be a small part of that growth has been such a rewarding experience. I’m forever grateful to Steve Malik for this opportunity, his belief in me, and his bold and visionary investment in our club. I’d also like to thank the world-class coaches, players, support staff, fans, and partners — past and present — who helped us build this club into what it is today. Most importantly, a huge thank you to my wife, my family, and friends for their incredible support. I look forward to what’s next, but I will always be a proud member of the North Carolina Football Club family and Courage Country,” Johnson said.
Johnson, who grew up playing soccer for Capital Area Soccer Club (CASL, now NCFC Youth), is a member of the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame, Ravenscroft School Sports Hall of Fame, and former captain of the NC State University men’s soccer team.
He began his professional career with adidas and the Richmond Kickers before a seven-year stint as General Manager of the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) in Major League Soccer, leading the team to the 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 Supporters Shield, and 2004 U.S. Open Cup. He then returned to the Triangle and, after a few years with the Carolina Hurricanes, signed on with his hometown professional soccer club. He finishes his tenure with the club as the most decorated General Manager/Chief Soccer Officer in American Soccer history.
