SoccerWise - Believing in the Utah Royals w/ Head Coach Jimmy Coenraets

Episode Date: June 16, 2026

David Gass welcomes Utah Royals head coach Jimmy Coenraets to the show today! The Royals are 2nd in the NWSL table at the summer break and lined up as a contender for the NWSL Shield. Gass and Coenraets chat about maintaining belief as the team was being built, recruitment strategy, the changes European coaches experience when moving to the NWSL and how Utah will approach the 2nd half of the NWSL season.00:34 - Managing emotions as the Royals are gelling as a cohesive and winning team01:38 - Managing the belief that Utah will get there one day in past seasons03:48 - Biggest differences experienced between the Belgian League and the NWSL07:06 - The impacts of Narumi Miura and Ana Tejada10:27 - Building the new attacking core12:03 - Activities during the extended summer break15:11 - Player recruiting strategy in the NWSL17:45 - Utah’s development pipeline21:40 - Setting goals for the 2nd half of the NWSL season

But we are very excited for our next interview here at Soccer Wise, as we are in a little bit of a break now from NWSL action, but we all know this story, and that is the Utah runs. They have been the story of 2026. We are lucky up now to be talking to someone who is a key part of it, and coach of the team, Jimmy Conratch. Jimmy, thanks for being with us. Thank you for having me.

So I mentioned it, some success to start the year. And it has been, I think, a long time coming for you. you just like what's the feelings the emotions for you as you watch this group week in and week out so far in this season yeah no i think just been really proud of what this team has been achieving over the past uh five to six months just in general and that like you said it's been a long time coming but i think a lot of work has been done behind the scenes that probably is not always visible for um people on on the other end i would say like people that watching us on a weekly base. You don't really understand or know what's going on behind the scenes, but I do have to say

the past two years have been quite intense behind the scenes. And I would dare to say that there is a foundation now that will lead to success at one point. And have we expected to be in a situation that we're in right now, probably safe to say no. I'm going to be completely honest. But we did know that we were going to be more competitive than we were last season or the season before. I think we're a bit of a good example of how processes internally do affect results. I think that's something we felt this season as far. Was there any time over the last two years where you wavered on the belief of the process or belief that it would end somewhere like this?

Yeah, I have to be honest, it's tough. It's really tough to kind of look players in the eyes and be like, look, we're going to get there. We're going to get to a point where we'll all look back to what we've been doing or what we're doing and we'll look at each other and say that it's been worth it. And obviously, that was a pretty intense job, just trying to keep everyone aligned and keep pushing forward. But then if you look at what we're doing now and the conversations that I'm having with players that have been with us for one, two years, however long it is, they do very often come back on how a lot of stuff that we've done over the past two years do make sense right now. So I think that's quite the evidence of processes. You, I think one of the stories for your team over these two plus years has been,

maybe a lack of balance, whether that's in the roster build or in the way the team plays. As you have worked and you've said, things that have happened now coming into this group, have you changed your ideas about what works on the field, what works for a group, or maybe about what works in NWSL? 100%. I'd say we're a big coaches. We're coming to the league with a model, with an idea of how we want to play. There are plenty of examples of European coaches that within the first four to five months do struggle

because realities you have this plan of how you want to play. Then the first reality is, okay, what is the roster looking like? And what are the qualities of players that I have? And then the second reality is that as much as you have an idea and a philosophy when you have a three-game week where you have San Diego on a Sunday, D.C. on a Wednesday and Boston on a Saturday, how much of that idea is actually achievable? How much of that philosophy can you actually apply on the pitch? can you apply with it throughout three games?

And I think that's the biggest piece of learning for me this season is being realistic. I've been pleased with some performances, but I also feel like some of the performances have not been great to watch, yet highly affected and probably also how we've expected them to be based upon what we want to do throughout those games. So I think that's been the reality of the season as far for us. What would you say are the biggest differences between the Belgian League where you worked now in NWSL? The pace of the game, just in general, I think,

pace of the game is way higher. The intensity is way higher, but also where, and I was laughing, I was, I was having a good chat with one of my former assistant who is now at my previous club, and he was complaining about a bus ride that was slightly too, too long, I think it was like a delay of 35 minutes,

and I was like, well, how long did it take you guys? And it was like, oh, I took it's one hour and 30 minutes to eventually get there. And I was like, well, I think there's a shorter if it is, it's the shortest away game for us on a plane. So I think that's the biggest difference, like the impact of all the travel, the reality of going to play away games, humidity, time differences, all of that. It's just something you take into account.

And you obviously have this unique setup and playing at altitude. How have you sort of learned how to use that as a home team and make it an advantage? I think we have to be really proud with the performance. and medical people. Both departments have really, really invested a lot. I think also a new ownership last year, that was the first two departments they invested heavily in. And I think we found the key to how to capitalize on disadvantage and how we can use it. And I think reality is shorter sessions, way more intensity. I think I've never seen us practice at this high of an intensity, but I've also never had this short of sessions. But I think the balance of it both really brings success at the minute.

think that's kind of the recipe for us moving forward. And that's keeping that balance, that balance. And I think, like I said, the intensity of practice is actually at sometimes we look at our team and we look at the pace that we go. And I think that's the weapon. That's really our weapon. And that's what we have to capitalize on during this summer as well. When you look then at how that extrapolates out into your game model and into the games,

is it finding those 10, 15 minute segments where you dominate and then sitting off a little bit more? Is it a change in the way you want to control games? I mean, I think from the outside, and you could tell me if I'm wrong, you believe in a possession style team that controls the pace of play. A hundred percent, I think. The ideology is we want to control both faces of the ball. We want to control when we have the ball. We want to be in control when the opponent has the ball. I think this season, and thus far we've been really good at controlling when we don't have the ball. I think our pressing strategies of the defensive structure have been really great. rate. Our counterpress has been really on point, to be honest.

So I think we're really in control of that aspect. Whether we're playing against San Diego, Washington, D.C., whoever we're playing against, I think Washington was a good example of scoring a goal in the 83rd minute at Audi Field. I think that's a great example. I think the one element we want to be getting better at during this CBA break, and the main objective of this break just in general is how do you capitalize more on having the ball? How do we use the ball? How do we use it as a mean to disrupt the structure of opponents?

because there's a one piece, I think, that within our, we have a game model that has like four segments. That's probably the one segment that we're lacking all right now. And I think if we can up that, we probably will be a team that will be competing for a playoff spot until the end of the season. The big name added in this offseason was Naurumi, who I think affects a lot of what you just talked about. How excited were you to get her onto the team? And then obviously with the Asian Cup, how long it took to finally get her into the group? Yeah, I think third time to charm. I tried in 2024.

Okay. In 2025 and at the end, I was successful. So really happy that we kept on going because from the very first time, I played against the Roomy. I said it against everyone at the club. Like, this is a type of player that needs to become the phase of how we play and what we do on the pitch. I remember she was playing for a shot at that time. And him and I with a conversation, I told him, he probably had one of the best midfielders in the league and his team. and he 100% acknowledge it.

And he was also the first person that actually texted me when we announced the transfer of Narumi, who was the first one, and said, like, look, you just got yourself a diamond. You got yourself something very special. So I think that's been really exciting to just work with her and also allow her to be yourself. It's kind of the player is same as Minatanaaka

that when you have conversations with them, it's not telling them what to do. It's more of asking them what I can do differently to just make them reach their level. I mean, I think that's a conversation with me now, with Naurumi as well. Like, how can I serve you? What do you need with me? How do you want me to sometimes move players so I get you more on the ball?

And I think that's really been key, understanding what the qualities of are of our players and try to really capitalize on those. And then the partnership in the middle with Tahada. And, you know, we've seen Anna Tihada play and control games and possession at times. One of the things we've talked about on Soccer wise, it feels like now maybe it's more predictable because you're more solid around her where she knows we're in a room he's not going to lose the ball and can take those steps but what has it been like plugging this all together and sort of seeing it all work yeah i think the kata is a funny one how a player that we wanted to

play sandoubek we weren't sure of physical capabilities on the midfield i think her and i we have plenty of conversation about how we want to play and what i need from her and i think she acknowledged it at the end of 2025 and she came in as a different player this season. And I think she's broken all of her personal records, whether it's sprint distance, high speed running, whatever it is, she's broken all of her records and she keeps on breaking them in moments where you meet, where you would love to see that your midfields can really outrun someone else. I think she's really been that player for us. She's been pressing as a winger sometimes. She's been tracking back into the box. So I think that's been very special.

But I also think the reality of how we step into games is just different. I think what our biggest mindset changes in the season is we don't look at. how to tie a game. We don't look at how to minimize the threats of an opponent. We look at how do we actually going to win games. And I think that's the biggest piece of how we've changed analysis, how we've changed narrative, game plans. We really look at how can we hurt any given team,

how can we get it? And I think that's been the biggest change for us. And yeah, that just very often leads into more offensive players, more bravery on the pitch as well, being slightly more bold on the ball, if that's what's needed in the game and not really just sticking to let's play through the lines and through the lines. Well, if there's no space through the lines, I think we've seen a Utah Royals version that can also play beyond the lines or can go around now.

And I think those are the aspects of the game that we've developed over the past few months. You have also some new pieces in the front of the attack, especially Kiki Palacios, up top. What were you looking to build in that part of the field and maybe the changes? Prasnakar, we know, came in late last year, a piece of this as well, of what maybe you were looking to add in that attack? attacking core. Yeah, I think physical line has always been what we want it. I think with Aisha, we have loads of the running capacity. With Hannah Betford, very similar profile, I'd say, very physical running.

And in Kiana, we notice someone that can run, but it's also good at holding the ball, can link and play, can drop into some other positions. I think in the past three games, we've been playing without a real striker. We've been helping our strikers between the lines. It just got some issues on the midfield for a lot of teams, but also because most of the set through the back step to really step forward and they like to go physical. So what if they want to step on me now?

We get Keanu and behind and those elements. And I think she's that type of player. She's been showing that. I think I would really not underestimate her physicality because we were at practice a few weeks ago. We're working on our press again. And she's really learning to step without the ball moving. So the second the ball starts, she's going to the box.

And it reminds me a bit of the PSG style. in the Champions League as well, where the trigger is not necessarily a player touching the ball. It's just about moving. Like, the first, second, the ball moves. We're on the move ourselves. And that makes it lead to that. And just happy she's scored and that she's also scoring goals. And I think that's the biggest piece we've been missing.

We always at one end, the physicality, missing the goals. And now I feel like we're getting ourselves into a position where we have both in the player. You obviously have had this great run to start the year. And now you have this layoff, which is, you know, not completely unheard of because it is CB. mandate. Normally, though, it's connected to women's soccer tournaments where some of the players are going to go playing. But that's not the case with this one. There's no Women's World Cup. There's no Olympics. What are you going to be doing for the two weeks or so? And what is the team sort of going to be doing? Well, I kind of hope that the team is doing the same as I'm doing.

I'm hoping to just shut down for a week and a half. And my sister is flying in. So I'm going to spend some time with her. We're going to tell why I spend a few days there. just, again, I think, try to enjoy everything but football because I think we're in an industry and in such a rush every single second of what we do, whether we're in the office, we're traveling to wherever it is, we're traveling back, we're doing recovery. Like, there's so much going on in the season. So I really hope that players, as much as thought, is taking a time off and just mentally can just give themselves a break because it's been intense. The way we play is intense, the way we coach is intense, the way we practice is intense. Otherwise, we wouldn't.

me play in the way we're playing. So that just requires so much energy from both staff as players. So I think for us, it's an ideal moment to just shut down. I also appreciate the fact that we can start adapting or kind of just look at the weather. I think that's a big thing. I mean, June, it gets really hot in Utah as well. And it kind of gives us a month to get used to it, to play with the weather, to play in the hot weather, maybe also just slightly trade slightly later.

So we're really exposed to maybe a 1 p.m. kickoff or 1.30 p.m. kickoff. start playing without having to feel the consequences in the weekend. So I think it just gives some opportunities. And that's what I'm hoping to get out of this break. Just one, us being better on the ball. Two, starting to just get used at the warm weather. And three, really giving people a physical and mental break. How do you handle as they come back in, is it a full preseason where you start physical?

You have to get them back up to the level. Have you scheduled scrimmages or friendlies or whatnot in there? Yeah, I think we'll play an internal scrimmage. I think we're kind of lucky with the college season as well, like how it's scheduled. So we actually can get some players in and get the internal scrimmage. We're also playing in Seattle at the end of the month of June just to get some play in minutes in as well. I think that's mostly what we'll be doing. But the reality as well is like the left, I think we have about seven, eight players, if not mine, go into the national break.

traveling to Brazil, to Slovenia, to Costa Rica, one, one's going back to Japan. So I think it's also managing those individuals that come back from all across the road. So I don't think we need a really good phase, but we don't need a physical uplift. I think the smartest thing to do right now is taking care of the health and making sure that everyone can start at gaming in Chicago after the break in the best possible way. Whilst we do that, can we look after the ball slightly more and can we be better off the ball? I think if we combine those elements, we should have a better second half even as we had a first all of the season. You mentioned the international players, and obviously this is a club that has had a lot of international players. It felt like from the first build into like the first rebuild really quickly,

there was a big lean on European players, and Atata, obviously, one of them. For some, it was a bit of a struggle. And I think watching from the outside, it was really exciting because a lot of players from the Spanish background that like to be on the ball, that like to be in possession. What do you feel like you've learned maybe about recruitment and who fits in NWSL or what it takes to help players get used to it? Amazing question, actually. I think what we've noticed in 2025 is that for a lot of players,

it takes about five to six months to really get adapted. We have some prime examples of Nerea Rubano, of Yanni Thompson, that really took their time easing into the competition. So I think there is also just a piece that it's probably out of your control. just in general because you do have to look at European markets for some specific profiles because if we want to become better, we do have to be realistic with ourselves and we're probably not the team that's going to be very attractive for like the top US women national team players. So we have to find different players, different kind of players.

So I think what we've done first is look at the physicality of players and make sure they quite easily have some trades that will work in this competition. Yanni is a prime example in my opinion. Annie Thompson of someone that had the running capacity, could run at high pace, could keep on doing it. So if you know she already has that, it's more of like how do we develop that? How do we keep her going?

And what are we at technically and tactically? I think that's been the biggest piece. But besides that as well, like how can we bring in players with NWSL experience? I think Naurumi has been a good example as well of a player that we brought in, that of whom we know she has experience. Alexa Spanster is a bit of the same. We know she's been in this league for three years. so we know what she's capable of.

And then Kiana was a player that played even at a high altitude than ours. So we took that into account whilst we're transferring as well. Like she's not going to be in shock because she's used to this. So she'll have a shorter period of adaptation to the environment. And how do we use that whilst we brought in and Diana Pierre-Louis as well from France. But we brought her into a midfield where we already have four midfielers. So we kind of just afford ourselves to have a longer time of working with her, whilst not necessarily meeting her

and bringing that to her as well. Like, look, you're going to get there. It's going to take you 67 months. But whilst we do that, we also have other players that we can rely on. There is no pressure on you to be ready straight off the bat. So I think that's been really interesting and smart in terms of strategy.

I know on the overall ownership group, the academy setup is really robust for what Real Salt Lake has built and obviously the players they brought in. I know KK. Ream, a young signing for you as well. What do you make of the pipeline and the capability with not a reserve league yet,

not a full academy system built into NWSL, the ability to develop players or help players develop. Yeah, I think what the club has been really good in the past two years, it's just inviting players from around Utah. I think there is also USL-W team here, Utah United, who plays in that league. And I think it's just making sure that we map out

what's available in our region. I look at players like Olivia Maltrey, who are playing at the highest level but are originally from here. So that's a good example of players that roam out. But we want to first pick up those kind of players. So what we're doing now is on a weekly base, we bring in three to four players at practice with us. So we really know what's going on in the region of Utah.

And once we feel like they're really close to that level is also just understanding what their goals are. Are they wanting to go to college? Or they want to, I don't know, whatever their individual perspective is of school in combination with football. That's what we respect. But we just make sure that they know they have a place with us as well whenever they want to get out of that system. I think that's the biggest thing of how we can recruit whilst in the backgrounds.

I think Kelly Couss is making plans to start an academy and establish an academy and really make it, yeah, make it a trademark for us as well because it's the philosophy of the club. It's winning through development. So I think we want to be that team, but we have to afford ourselves some time to kind of do it in the right way. And I would say that's a Utah way of doing things. I think it's not rushing into anything is making sure there is a solid foundation giving ourselves time to them really

peak but peak with the foundation. One of the examples I think of development that one of the prime ones is Mandy McGlynn who has stepped into the national team and it feels like there has been growing pains of playing in possession and playing off her line and growing into it. What has it been like working with her

and where she now stands? Yeah, I think Amanda is definitely one of them. I think coming in or at least more we came in in 2024, I think it was a good analysis of Amanda. And it was clear what her key assets were as a player. And I think of the first practice session, when we included her in Rondo, she and I with a conversation about, look, this is what I'm expected with a goal.

Is this something you want to do? And she was excited. She was like, look, this is a piece of me that I want to develop. I want to become that goalkeeper. And I remember stepping into the second hour of 2024, and she was giving those true balls to the six. she was finding top line passes over the floor, and I look at her and I go like, wow,

if this is a piece of what you can develop, and it only took you three months to develop this, this is huge. And this has been just three, four months. And I'm looking at Mandy now, and I look at her own daily base. And I think I'm seeing one of the best goalkeepers in the role, just in general. When it comes to technical goalkeeper, I think, when she goes one for one on a spread save,

she's really good at it. And I also see that she has developed her game over, I think just a more realistic way of playing. It's not always a true ball. It might have to go wide. It might have to go mid-law. It might have to go in beyond. But she's really picking the right boss.

And I think that's been really interesting to just see that development of just one individual. And I think a lot of credit to the goalkeeper coach as well. James has been working very intense with her, but also credit to the whole Gilquipor union that when Mia just as happy step up, she was there. She was ready. We see a very similar style of player in Mandy. So, in Mia as in Mandy, I think it's keeping each other really sharp. And yeah, those two at practice, they don't give each other any breathe.

They stay, they're on their toes and make it as hard as they can for each other. You sort of said it maybe as confident as you were over the last few years probably wouldn't have said first place in NWSL right now. And so I'm wondering as you come out of the break, how do you set goals for the second half of the year and what do you talk about with the group in terms of what you want, 26 to be. I think our biggest goal, and we kind of alluded to this marathon, like I've been a marathon running myself, I've run a few, I think every single sprint, every single practice that you have, go into a marathon, will learn new stuff, will hurt sometimes, will be very successful, but again, it's what you pick up on, what you pick out of those training sessions,

and we're kind of in the same race right now where we know this season is a long marathon, especially in NWSL, and we all know how that second half of the, season can be. I think you have a summer window, a lot of free agents, players will be coming into the NWSL. So you might be played against teams that all of a sudden will be lining up three to four different players and they were in the first half of the season. So there's a lot of variables that you have to cope with. So I think our mindset is just how do we manage ourselves? And what we did as a team is we've established non-negotiables and standards and the non-negotiables are measurable, are tangible. And I think going into the second half of the season is can we keep

or relying on those because those have brought success to us. And what are some elements we want to add where we have probably three or four in the first half of the season? Can we have six, maybe seven at Mags that we make tangible in the second half of the season and become more of an all-round team instead of just having two or three assets to go into games? I think that's our main objective. And in our reality as well, like I said, we weren't expected to be in the spot going

into the season. But we're also not focusing on just that spot. we're still focusing on as crazy as it might sound because I do know for effect, fans would love to hear me say different things, but we're still looking at the process more than results. The performance is more as a result, the processes. That's the most important piece for us because we do know on a very long term, the processes keep on coming back and those will lead to results.

And I think that to me is just the most important piece in the second half the season again. Well, the process has been working and the results have been there so far. It's been fun to watch. one of the most entertaining teams Kate Delvado told us in preseason, don't worry, this is the year. We could fully give our hearts to the Utah Royals. We weren't going to let us down. She was right.

It's been fun to watch. So appreciate you taking the time. Enjoy the break a little bit, and we're looking forward to seeing the team back on the field. Thank you. Appreciate it.