Jay Berhalter has not been a popular figure among U.S. soccer fans. Justly or unjustly, the CCO of U.S. Soccer has often been a target of derision in part for his association with his younger brother Gregg Berhalter, the USMNT coach, with many believing the two created a conflict of interest. Jay was, in the eyes of many and to chagrin of more, considered the frontrunner to take over as U.S. Soccer CEO.
But all of that went out the window as on Thursday night, with Jay Berhalter saying he’s stepping down from his role as Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at the end of February.
| Jay Berhalter has stepped down as CCO of @ussoccer.
We are deeply grateful to Jay for his many years of service and contribution to the growth of the sport in the United States.— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) February 7, 2020
The announcement came a day after SI’s Grant Wahl reported Berhalter was no longer in the running for U.S. Soccer CEO. Dan Flynn stepped down as CEO in September (he was known to be leaving for much longer), and the position has yet to be filled.
Wahl reported Berhalter “did not receive positive reviews from U.S. Soccer employees in a recent anonymous survey conducted by the federation.” Those negative reviews are likely the same as those reported by the Andrew Das of the New York Times in June. Then it was reported Berhalter created “a terrible and toxic place to work” with morale “at an all-time low.”
Many U.S. Soccer critics — and even more trolls on social media — had assumed Jay Berhalter would become CEO and further bolster his brother’s status as USMNT coach, regardless of results on the pitch, which haven’t been too spectacular thus far.
Fortunately, it appears the awkward situation has been avoided with Jay stepping down, although the cynic would suggest he’s only leaving because he wasn’t offered the CEO gig.
“Having been involved in the sport since the 1994 World Cup and the start of Major League Soccer, working towards the mission of making soccer the preeminent sport in the U.S. has been a fantastic opportunity throughout my career,” Jay Berhalter said in a statement. “I am fortunate to have worked with so many passionate teammates and proud of what we have been able to accomplish together at all levels of the game. My decision to leave U.S. Soccer was not an easy one to make, but it’s the right one for my family and me at this time. Looking to the future, it is exciting to imagine the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Jay Berhalter’s experience with U.S. Soccer is extensive — perhaps more so than that of his brother. While Gregg was racking up 44 USMNT appearances as a player from 1994-2006, Jay was getting involved with the federation behind the scenes. He joined U.S. Soccer in 2000 as Chief Operating Officer, including overseeing the 2003 Women’s World Cup Organizing Committee. That year the Women’s World Cup had to be moved from China to the U.S. at the last minute because of the SARS epidemic.
Jay Berhalter also oversaw various efforts on the soccer side, including in player development, coach education and referee training. He became CCO in 2014 and was CEO of the 2016 Copa America Centenario, which helped U.S. Soccer earn a profit of $75 million.
“Jay has played an invaluable role in the growth of our Federation and the evolution of the game in our country,” U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro said in a statement. “His deep understanding of all the technical, commercial and business aspects of the sport will have a lasting impact on the game across America.
“All of us at the Federation wish Jay and his family the very best in the years to come.”
It’s uncertain what Jay Berhalter leaving U.S. Soccer means for his brother. The USMNT coach should still be given a chance to show what he can do with the national team, even if patience is already wearing thin with some supporters, particularly after some losses to Mexico in 2019.
But at least U.S. Soccer won’t have to answer any more questions about conflicts of interest in the men’s national team.
