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Lou Fusz Athletic Welcomes GA Rising & MLS Next Managers

Official Hiring Announcement

Lou Fusz Athletic is excited to announce the hiring of both Madeline Wood and Baggio Husidic. Wood will manage the LFA Girls Academy Rising platform, while Husidic will manage the LFA MLS Next full pathway platform heading into the 2023-2024 soccer season.

“We are always searching for qualified coaches to add to our talented staff to lead and support,” adds LFA Managing Director, Dan Gargan. “Madeline and Baggio have great character and experience that will fit right in and raise our level!”

Coach Madeline Wood

Growing up in the state of Texas and playing at a high level with her hometown club, Solar Soccer Club, Wood flourished as a talented field player. Her involvement with the North Texas Olympic Development Program from 2006-2011 paved the way to her eventual soccer career at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. While simultaneously playing for an elite NCAA Division I soccer program, Wood received her Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design from the university and to this day is pursuing a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership.

Wood has become a staple part of the Olympic Development Program over the course of her career, as the North Texas ODP Coach (6+ years), ODP South Region Staff Member (2022), and current Missouri ODP Head Coach for the 2007G team. In addition to ODP coaching, Wood also served as the Harris-Stowe State University Assistant Soccer Coach for both the Men’s and Women’s Programs for the 2022-2023 season.

Coach Baggio Husidic

Husidic has been immersed into the soccer world from a young age. While playing NCAA Division I collegiate soccer for his hometown program at University of Illinois-Chicago, Husidic was a standout All-American and Conference player. His soccer talents eventually propelled him to the professional soccer scene, where he spent years playing for several professional organizations including the Chicago Fire, Hammarby IF (Sweden), and the Los Angeles Galaxy (where he was an eventual MLS Cup Champion).

After retiring from his professional career, Husidic found a passion for coaching at an elite level. For years, Husidic served as Assistant Coach of NCAA Division I collegiate soccer programs, including both St. Mary’s College as well as University of San Fransisco.

For more information about Coach Wood and Coach Husidic, click here. Visit our Soccer Home Page to learn more about player development opportunities here.

Follow along all season on social media at @loufuszsoccer and @loufuszathletic on Instagram and Twitter.