U.S. Soccer's longtime Director of Communications, Jim Moorhouse, is leaving his current position at its headquarters in Chicago to take a new role with U.S. Soccer as the Director of Youth National Teams at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Moorhouse has been with U.S. Soccer for 11 years, originally joining the organization in Chicago from MLS's Kansas City Wizards in 1997. He had previously worked for eight years with the San Diego Sockers, the legendary indoor team. In his new position, Moorhouse will oversee the planning of each of U.S. Soccer's 12 youth national teams, as well as the Beach Soccer, Futsal and Paralympic teams.

As part of the changes, U.S. Soccer has combined the marketing and communications functions of the organization to enhance service to both media and fans. Mike Gressle, the Manager of Sponsor Services since 2001, has been named the Director of Marketing & Communications, and Neil Buethe has been named the Senior Manager of Communications.

Buethe, who will serve as U.S. Soccer's new spokesperson, has been at U.S. Soccer for five years and has served in a variety of communications roles, most recently overseeing the development and production of original content produced for ussoccer.com and other media outlets as Content Manager.