Kansas City, Missouri – The United Soccer Coaches is pleased to announce the return of the United Soccer Coaches Podcast with Dean Linke. The first episode following a year-long hiatus will be released Thursday, May 22, 2025. Initially, the United Soccer Coaches Podcast with Dean Linke will be audio only; however, the plan is to expand the podcast by featuring it on the United Soccer Coaches YouTube channel.
Linke, who started the United Soccer Coaches Podcast in conjunction with the Association several years ago, has a long history with the coaches’ organization.
Linke started as the television play-by-play voice for the then-named NSCAA College Game of the Week on Fox Soccer Channel in the early 2000s. When Fox Soccer Channel disbanded the United Soccer Coaches Podcast was created. From there, Linke would go on to serve as the “voice of the United Soccer Coaches”. This includes hosting and co-hosting several events at the annual United Soccer Coaches Convention.
Each month, Linke will work hand-in-hand with United Soccer Coaches leaders, including Sarah Wilbur, who will work with Linke each month on timely and topical guests. Each podcast will be released the 3rd Thursday of each month.
Note: If you have a guest you want featured on the United Soccer Coaches Podcast, please reach out to Sarah Wilbur with suggestions, questions and input. Her email is: swilbur@unitedsoccercoaches.org. In addition, if you have a company that would like to sponsor the podcast or run advertisements in the show, please reach out to partners@unitedsoccercoaches.org.
Who is Dean Linke?
Linke is approaching 30 years as a television play-by-play broadcaster, reporter and host. In addition, Linke has a long history as a US Soccer employee and ambassador. Linke was a junior press officer for the 1990 US Men’s World Cup team and a junior press officer of the 1991 US Women’s World Cup championship team in China. He would later serve as the senior press officer for the 1992 US Men’s Olympic Team in Barcelona before taking over as the senior press officer for the 1994 US Men’s World Cup Team. After serving as Major League Soccer’s first-ever Director of Communications from 1994-1996, Linke took the leap to the broadcast booth with MLS’ Colorado Rapids for the inaugural season of Major League Soccer. Linke has served 20+ years as the television voice for every iteration of the North Carolina Courage (now NWSL) and North Carolina FC (aka Carolina RailHawks), beginning in 1999. Linke has also been a familiar voice on the Big Ten Network, having wrapped up his 19th season as the primary soccer voice (as well as several other sports) this past season. You can also catch Linke calling several ACC games. Linke’s wife, Leah, who worked as
the protocol manager for the 1994 World Cup, is now the senior vice president for OnLocation and will serve as the head of hospitality and delivery for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Leah and Dean have two boys, Benjamin, 28, and Maxwell, 25.
United Soccer Coaches
Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Mo., United Soccer Coaches has grown into one of the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization that serves members at every level of the game. United Soccer Coaches works every day to inspire coaches and ignite their passion for the game so they pass it on to players and others in the soccer community. More information on United Soccer Coaches and the opportunities they provide can be found at unitedsoccercoaches.org.