U.S. Soccer has named John Hackworth head coach of the U-17 national team, his second stint in charge of the squad.
Hackworth coached the U-17 national team from 2004 to 2007. He led the team to the quarterfinals of the 2005 U-17 World Championship, and the round of 16 of the 2007 U-17 World Cup. After leaving the U.S. program, he coached the Philadelphia Union from 2012 to 2014.
"This program is near and dear to my heart, I'm excited and honored to be back working with the U-17 national team," Hackworth said in a U.S. Soccer release. "This is an important age group on the national team pathway and I'm looking forward to overseeing the training environment that will allow them to maximize their potential at this stage of their careers."
Hackworth replaces Richie Williams as head coach. Williams joined Real Salt Lake as an assistant coach after his USA U-17 side bowed out at the group stage of the 2015 World Cup.
