Crew's Asher Mendelsohn returns to U.S. Soccer as its new chief soccer officer

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Dec 24, 2018

Asher Mendelsohn is returning to U.S. Soccer as chief soccer officer, following new men's national team coach from the Columbus Crew, where he spent the last five years as director of soccer operations.

Mendelsohn replaces Ryan Mooney, who left U.S. Soccer to help run a new sports business venture -- Playmakers Management Group -- formed by Philadelphia Union minority owner Richie Graham, the founder of the YSC Academy that serves as the residential arm for the Union academy, one of MLS's most productive academies.

Mendelsohn joined the Crew as the same time as Berhalter took over as head coach and sporting director late in 2013. He had spent nine years at U.S Soccer,
working in the member services department and overseeing the referees, coaching and development academy programs. He worked on the startup of the Development Academy and the Professional Referee Organization.

U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro made the announcement in a year-end letter to the federation's membership.

-- Also hired to a senior management position was Pinky Raina, who will take over as chief financial officer.

-- Cindy Cone, the lone candidate for U.S. Soccer vice president vacancy, will serve as co-chair of the Youth Task Force Leadership Council along with CEO Dan Flynn