And now coming to the stage, for the first time as the newly-named U.S. U23 Women’s National Team Coach: Randy Waldrum.

The Notre Dame legend has added a noteworthy line item to his bio, not unlike Akron’s Caleb Porter on the men’s side, and this is the week he debuts.

The U23s arrived in Sarasota, Florida, on Sunday where they’ll spend a week of training and familiarizing with their new coach.

Not that the 24 players arriving won’t be acquainted with Waldrum, and vice versa. Serving as a bridge to the senior national team, the early-year U23 camps always offer a nice mix of professionals and college standouts.

Waldrum, a two-time national champion, will recognize most of the faces whether he’s formally met them or not. Oklahoma State standout, Adrianna Franch, Duke’s Natasha Anasi, North Carolina's Amber Brooks, former Nebraska striker Morgan Marlborough, Florida’s Erika Tymrak and UCLA’s Jenna Richmond are all players he is no doubt familiar with.  

Waldrum will even find himself coaching a couple of his own, in Notre Dame’s Sammy Scofield and Elizabeth Tucker. 

And while professional players Lauren Barnes, Elli Reed, Amanda DaCosta and Bianca D’Agostino will also be in the mix the camp will also feature newly-drafted Women’s Professional Soccer rookies.

With the WPS Draft unfolding this past weekend in Kansas City, a few of the camp’s attendees just recently had their professional dreams become a reality.

Stanford duo Camille Levin and Lindsay Taylor were both first-round draft choices that will be present. Levin was selected by Sky Blue FC with the fourth overall pick while Taylor headed to Western New York Flash at No. 6. 

So Waldrum won’t be the only figure debuting a new title. He’ll just be front and center. 

 

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Oklahoma State; Salina, Kan.), Emily Kruger (California; Woodside, Calif.), Megan Kufeld (Washington; Freemont, Calif.) 

 

DEFENDERS (10): Natasha Anasi (Duke; Arlington, Texas), Lauren Barnes (Philadelphia Independence; Upland, Calif.), Amber Brooks (North Carolina; New Hope, Pa.), Camille Levin (Stanford; Newport Coast, Calif.), Taylor Lytle (Texas Tech; Las Cruces, N.M.), Blake Miller (West Virginia; St. Louis, Mo.); Toni Pressley (Florida State; Melbourne, Fla.), Elli Reed (Boston Breakers; Park City, Utah), Sammy Scofield (Notre Dame; Geneva, Ill.), Kika Toulouse (Virginia; Arlington, Va.) 

 

MIDFIELDERS (6): Zakiya Bywaters (UCLA; Las Vegas, Nev.), Bianca D’Agostino (out of contract; Longmeadow, Mass.), Amanda DaCosta (Sky Blue FC; Katonah, N.Y.), Jenna Richmond (UCLA; Centerville, Va.), Elizabeth Tucker (Notre Dame; Jacksonville, Fla.), Erika Tymrak (Florida; Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) 

 

FORWARDS (5): Vicki DiMartino (Boston College; Massapequa, N.Y.), Morgan Marlborough (Lee's Summit, Mo.), Danielle Foxhoven (Portland; Littleton, Co.), Lindsay Taylor (Stanford; Los Altos, Calif.), Laura Weinberg (Duke; Boca Raton, Fla.)