Invitation program increases diversity in MLS
There is a new avenue to join the Major League Soccer ranks. On Tuesday, MLS officially launched its MLS ADVANCE initiative. The invitationonly program is focused on identifying and developing underrepresented candidates for various sporting roles within the league and across the MLS ecosystem, including its development league and academy.
Candidates who participate in the program will have unique opportunities to meet with team officials and front office executives, along with mentorship and access to skill-building resources.
“With our League’s richly diverse player and fan populations, our work at MLS is to continue to ensure that our league and clubs reflect the diversity not only of MLS but our sport around the world,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement released by the league.
How does MLS ADVANCE work?: Three key pathways
According to the league, there are three keys to increasing diverse hires through MLS ADVANCE:
⬤ A global diverse database, which curates a list of qualified underrepresented candidates for open positions.
⬤ Networking events with key decision makers. Candidates will be invited to key events, including MLS board of governors meetings, to network with front office executives.
⬤ Professional development. Candidates will learn through mentorship and year-round programming that includes interview preparation, coaching licensing support and a speaker series featuring MLS leaders.
MLS ADVANCE launched as a pilot in December and has already placed five of 12 candidates – 42% – in sporting positions, according to the league.
A ‘life-changing’ opportunity
CF Montréal assistant coach Hervé Diese, who attended a two-day MLS ADVANCE event in Florida, called it “truly life changing.”
“I was able to learn from some of MLS’ most important leaders, had the chance to sharpen my interviewing and networking skills and ultimately met CF Montréal Assistant Sporting Director Vassili Cremanzidis, which led to my new role with the club,” Diese said in a statement. “The level of support, assistance and encouragement I’ve received from MLS league staff and leaders around the league over the last few months has blown me away.”
Diese added he wants to stay involved in MLS ADVANCE and one day become a mentor to the next generation of leaders.
MLS diversity by the numbers
MLS committed to increasing “inclusion and representation” in 2020. Entering the 2023 season, which begins Saturday, 57% of the league’s players are Black or Hispanic and 34% of the league’s head coaches are Black or Hispanic. The league said there was a 120% increase in hiring of Black candidates between August and November last year.
In 2021, the league also updated its Diversity Hiring Policy, requiring teams have two or more non-white candidates, one of whom must be Black, in their finalist pools for open sporting positions. Teams also have to enter all vacant positions and details of their interview process into the Diversity Policy Portal or face up to a $100,000 fine.
According to the league, the changes made an immediate impact.
⬤ Underrepresented candidates made up 51% of MLS sporting roles filled in the first year after updating the policy and 64% of MLS NEXT Pro sporting roles filled in the first two months of the new policy.
⬤ The league now has a database of over 300 underrepresented candidates.
⬤ More than 200 underrepresented candidates have been interviewed as finalists.