Amy LePeilbet

Amy Elizabeth LePeilbet ( ; born March 12, 1982) is an American women's soccer associate coach for the Salt Lake Bruins, and a retired professional and international player.

She was the interim head coach of Utah Royals FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) until its 2020 dissolution and relocation.

As a player, LePeilbet last played as a defender for FC Kansas City of the NWSL and was a member of the United States women's national team. She was an Olympic gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics and a silver medalist at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Early life Born in Spokane, Washington, LePeilbet attended Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where she lettered four years in soccer and three times in basketball.

In 2000, she was named Northwest Herald Player of the Year and was honored with the John Mackie Senior Athlete of the Year award. She also earned the Fox Valley Scholar-Athlete and United States Marine Corps Athlete Recognition awards the same year.

Arizona State University LePeilbet attended Arizona State University, where she majored in Sociology and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. Amy played for the Arizona State Sun Devils women's soccer team from 2000 to 2003. She was a three-time First-Team All-Pac-10 selection (2001–2003) and a two-time All-American. The Heatwave came in second in the Western Conference with a 10–3–1 record during the season.

Pali Blues, 2008

In 2008, she played for the Pali Blues in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California. She appeared in 12 games (1,080 minutes), scored two goals and provided one assist.

The Blues came in first in the Western Conference with a 12–0–0 record and clinched the W-League championship title with a 2–1 win over FC Indiana. During the final, LePeilbet scored the equalizing goal with a header off of a corner kick in the 83rd minute. As a result, she was named the Most Valuable Player of the W-League Championship. She was also named to the W-League Championship All-Tournament Team.

Boston Breakers, 2009–11

With the arrival of Women's Professional Soccer, LePeilbet was drafted by the Boston Breakers fourth overall in the 2008 WPS General Draft. In the 2009 inaugural season, she appeared in 19 games (1710 minutes), all of which were starts. Following a strong season, LePeilbet was selected the 2009 WPS Defender of the Year.

During the 2010 season, LePeilbet played every minute of 22 games for the Boston Breakers as the center of the defense and was named for the second time running the WPS Defender of the Year (the only WPS player to win the award two years back-to-back) and to the WPS All-Star Game.

In 2011, she played in 10 matches for the Breakers, but spent most of the season with the United States women's national soccer team training for and playing in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She did not play during the 2013 season due to recovery from Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision surgery on her left knee. The Red Stars finished sixth during the regular season with an 8–8–6 record.

FC Kansas City, 2014–2015 On March 31, 2014, the Chicago Red Stars traded LePeilbet to FC Kansas City for a first round pick in the 2015 college draft and an additional international slot for 2014 and 2015. She spent the first half of the season finishing rehabilitation from ACL surgery. The draft pick later became Arin Gilliland. Nearly 18 months since her last competitive game, on June 4, 2014, LePeilbet appeared in her first match for Kansas City being subbed in at left back in the 84'. In 2015, she played every minute of the regular season for Kansas City and was voted a finalist for the league Defender of the Year award and named to the Best XI. On December 28, 2015 FC Kansas City announced that LePeilbet was retiring.

International career

LePeilbet was a member of the United States U-21 national team from 2002 to 2003, and played a critical role in the defensive backfield for the team that won the Nordic Cup in both 2002 and 2003. She made her first appearance for the full United States national team in 2004 against Sweden.

LePeilbet was unable to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing due to her recovery from a knee injury.

In 2011, LePeilbet competed in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup held in Germany, where the USA team finished second behind Japan. She played 535 minutes in all six matches the USA team played in Germany. She was substituted in the two group matches against Colombia and Sweden and received one yellow card in the encounter against Sweden that resulted in a penalty kick for their opponent.

LePeilbet's match record at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup included three wins against Korea DPR and Colombia in group stage, and France in the semifinal; one loss against Sweden in the group stage; and two draws with Brazil in the quarter-final and Japan in the final.

In May 2012, LePeilbet was one of 18 players to be named to the roster for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. At the Games, she competed in five of the six matches that her team USA played. She accumulated 436 minutes of playing time and did not receive caution or ejection. Therefore, her match record at the 2012 Summer Olympics was five wins, no losses and no draws.

Coaching career On February 9, 2018, LePeilbet was announced as the second assistant coach for the Utah Royals for their inaugural season. She returned to the Royals for the 2019 NWSL season and on May 15, 2019, she was named the head coach of the Utah Royals FC Reserves, a semi-professional team that competes in the WPSL during the summer months.

On September 20, 2020, LePeilbet was named the interim head coach of Utah Royals FC.

Honors and awards FC Kansas City NWSL championship: 2014, 2015

United States Olympic Gold Medal: 2012 Algarve Cup: 2010, 2011 Four Nations Tournament: 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Runner-up: 2011

Individual WPS Defender of the Year: 2009, 2010