Major Shakeup at Washington Spirit as Mark Krikorian Exits Leadership Role

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mark Krikorian is stepping down as president of soccer operations and general manager of the Washington Spirit, the club announced on Monday, following the conclusion of his three-year contract.

Krikorian’s contract ended in February, just before the beginning of the new National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. He noted that the timing allowed him to reflect on his future. “It served as a natural point to think through my future,” he said in a statement.

In a show of support, club owner Michele Kang had asked Krikorian to remain involved through the offseason and into the start of the season. “From the beginning, Mark helped build a culture of excellence and success,” Kang said. “His vision and execution have been integral in making the Washington Spirit one of the league’s top teams. On behalf of the club, I want to thank him for his leadership and wish him and Linda the very best.”

Taking the helm of soccer operations on an interim basis will be sporting director James Hocken and assistant general manager Nathan Minion, as announced by the Spirit.

Krikorian joined the Spirit in 2022, bringing with him a storied coaching resume as one of the most decorated NCAA women’s soccer coaches in history. His tenure included overseeing a significant roster transformation that led the Spirit to the 2024 NWSL Championship.

“When I came here in the spring of 2022, I wanted to help establish the Spirit as a perennial contender in the NWSL and one of the best clubs in the world,” Krikorian stated. “I felt that over the past three years we built a foundation that can last while assembling a roster that can immediately compete for championships.”

During his time with the Spirit, Krikorian was instrumental in hiring head coach Jonatan Giráldez, who joined the club last summer after a successful tenure with European champions.

Prior to joining the Spirit, Krikorian spent 16 years as the head coach of Florida State‘s women’s soccer team, leading them to three NCAA Division I titles and also coached Franklin Pierce to two consecutive NCAA Division II titles in 1994 and 1995. Additionally, he was the head coach of the Philadelphia Charge for the entirety of the Women’s United Soccer Association’s existence from 2001 to 2003.