Coach Emma Coates Departs England Under-23s Position to Assume Command at National Women's Soccer League's Bay FC
Embarking on a fresh professional challenge, the former England youth boss has stepped down from the Young Lionesses national team to take over as head coach for NWSL expansion side Bay FC.
Transition Stateside
Coates succeeds Albertin Montoya, who guided the San Jose-based club during its inaugural two seasons in the top-flight American league. Montoya had revealed in September his intention to resign at the end of the 2025 campaign, a season which saw Bay FC occupy a lowly 13th place in the league standings.
“It has been a privilege to serve my time with the FA,” stated Coates. “It has been instrumental in my development both professionally and personally. This feels like the right moment to challenge myself in a different setting.”
Coaching Pedigree
During her tenure in 2023, Coates oversaw the England U23s through matches including a 1-0 victory over Norway in the European U23 League and a high-scoring loss to the United States. She will be joined to America is her former Lionesses staff member, Gemma Davies, a ex- Aston Villa manager in the English top division.
Kay Cossington, a one-time Football Association technical lead, spoke highly of Coates's qualifications: “Emma is not only an outstanding tactician, but she also has a demonstrated history of nurturing talent to compete at the highest levels.”
“Her leadership qualities are exceptional of teams and environments and has the tactical philosophy we were looking for,” added Cossington.
The Task Ahead
The club experienced a contrasting start to its NWSL existence, finishing in seventh place and losing in the playoffs in its first year before slipping to a 13th-place finish in 2025.
The new FA women’s technical director, Gavin Step, offered thanks to the outgoing coaches: “We thank Emma and Gemma for their contributions and extend our best wishes with their venture abroad. They have played a pivotal part in strengthening the pathway between the WU23s and the senior squad.”
“Together, they have directly influenced the development of many promising talents who have earned call-ups to senior Lionesses,” Step concluded.
Lasting Legacy
Since taking over Mo Marley in 2023, Coates has overseen the promotion of several players to the national team, including playmaker Lucia Kendall—who netted her first Lionesses goal—and attackers Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones.
An extensive process for their replacements is now underway, to continue the growth of the Women’s Under-23s setup in the coming years.
