Racing Louisville FC’s academy director, Mario Sanchez, has appointed an all-female staff to lead its USL W League team, the club announced Tuesday.

Kincaid Schmidt will serve as head coach, Libby Stout as assistant coach and Kiley Polk as team administrator with Racing gearing up for the pre-professional women’s soccer circuit’s inaugural season kicking off in May.

With more than 35 teams signed on, the W League has a goal to form the next generation of women’s talent both on and off the field, enhancing the player pipeline between college and the pro ranks, where Racing's first team plays in the NWSL. The W League also strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity and career development.

"This is truly one of the best environments for female soccer players in the country, and I am incredibly proud and excited to be tasked with overseeing this next stage of our development pathway," Schmidt said. "Working with all ages of our youth academy on a daily basis, I see every day how much this club means to the young girls of the Louisville community. To be able to facilitate their pathway to pro fills me with immense pride."

Schmidt, a 34-year-old USSF A License holder, is a Florida native who previously served as the Colorado Rapids’ U19 Girls Select head coach as well as the assistant coach for the Rapids’ unbeaten WPSL team in 2020. She has since worked as junior academy director for Racing and Louisville City FC.

Before her coaching career took off, the Florida native Schmidt played from 2004-2007 at IMG Academy before captaining Division II Flagler College in her home state.

Stout, 31, also works as the Racing Academy’s goalkeeper director. The Louisville native previously helped Southern Illinois University launch its women’s soccer program as an assistant coach there from 2018-2021.

The DuPont Manual graduate went on to an All-American playing career at Western Kentucky University before continuing as a pro overseas. Stout’s stops included a stint at England’s Liverpool, where she won a title in 2014 as a teammate of future Racing defender Gemma Bonner.

Polk, 21, is another Louisville native who has worked as a coach in both the academy and with Racing’s first team. She played three seasons at the University of Louisville after attending Sacred Heart Academy, winning a state championship in 2015.

"I am humbled to be given the task of leading an incredible staff of Louisville natives who are true ambassadors for soccer in this city, and I look forward to developing a team that this club and community can be proud of," Schmidt said.

The addition of a W League team for 2022 completes Racing’s developmental pyramid, beginning with youth academy juniors all the way up to the NWSL’s top-tier professionals. Home games will be hosted at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center, while the roster will be made up of academy standouts and college stars with an eye toward pro careers.

Interested players can fill out this form to be considered. Bookmark RacingLouFC.com/WLeague for updates on the squad.