Bay FC’s domestic scouting head, Graeme Abel, has stepped down just a week into his role amid allegations of verbal misconduct during his tenure at the University of Oregon.
Abel, who served as an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s national team under Jill Ellis from 2015 to 2019, was with Oregon from 2019 until his resignation last year. His departure from Oregon followed a challenging season where the Ducks recorded a 5-11-2 overall and 1-8-2 in the Big Ten.
In April, a report revealed claims by more than a dozen former players alleging verbal abuse by Abel, which involved inappropriate language and intimidation concerning playing time and scholarships. Abel has contested these allegations.
In a statement released by Bay FC, Abel expressed his intent to contribute positively to the club’s growth in women’s sports. However, he acknowledged that his presence had become a diversion, prompting him to resign. “Bay FC is changing the face of women’s sports, and I was looking forward to helping make an impact and bring in even more talent to this already incredibly skilled club,” he said. “However, me joining the club has become a distraction which is not fair to the team and players, so I have made the difficult decision to resign. The team should be focusing on what is most important, playing the game they love and competing for a championship.”
His appointment had been part of Bay FC’s efforts to establish a global scouting team for their National Women’s Soccer League organization.
Sporting Director Matt Potter commented on the situation, “As we build a global sports franchise, we will continue to diligently search for the best talent on and off the pitch, always prioritizing our players and team culture. We appreciate Graeme’s willingness to step aside so we can focus on football.”
