Abel Quits Bay FC Amid Oregon Abuse Claims

Bay FC’s head of domestic scouting, Graeme Abel, has stepped down from his position after only a week due to allegations of verbal abuse during his previous coaching tenure at the University of Oregon.

Abel, who served as an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s national team from 2015 to 2019 under former coach Jill Ellis, led the team at Oregon from 2019 until his departure last year. His resignation came in October following a challenging season in which the Ducks concluded with a 5-11-2 record overall and a 1-8-2 score in the Big Ten.

In April, The Oregonian reported allegations from over a dozen former players who accused Abel of verbal misconduct. The claims involved the use of inappropriate language and threats that impacted their playing time and scholarship opportunities. Abel has consistently denied these allegations.

In a statement issued by Bay FC on Wednesday, Abel commented, “Bay FC is transforming the landscape of women’s sports, and I was eager to contribute by attracting even more exceptional talent to this already outstanding club. However, my association with the club has become a distraction, and it is unfair to the team and players. I’ve made the tough choice to resign so the team can concentrate on what truly matters—playing soccer and striving for championships.”

Bay FC announced Abel’s appointment just last week as part of the development of a new global scouting infrastructure within the National Women’s Soccer League club.

“As we work to establish a global sports franchise, our commitment remains in finding outstanding talent both on and off the field, with a strong emphasis on player welfare and team culture,” Sporting Director Matt Potter stated. “We are grateful for Graeme’s decision to step down, allowing us to focus our attention on the sport.”