Denver NSWL names Curt Johnson as general manager

Denver’s NWSL expansion team is adding to its staff as it prepares for 2026 play. The team announced Curt Johnson as its first general manager on May 29. He begins immediately and will lead soccer operations.

Johnson has seven major trophies under his belt, notably bringing with him the experience of leading the North Carolina Courage to two National Women’s Soccer League championships. He has 25 years of executive experience through roles in the NWSL, Major League Soccer, United Soccer League and North American Soccer League. In 2000, he helped bring Sporting Kansas City to the MLS Cup.

“There’s incredible momentum around this club,” Johnson said in a statement Thursday. “I’m excited to get to work building a team the people of Denver and Colorado can be proud of.”

Beginning in 2017, Johnson held dual roles managing the Courage and the UCL’s North Carolina FC until 2024. He is known for his success in roster building, salary cap management and long-term business planning.

Under Johnson’s management, the Courage finished high enough in the regular season table to go to NWSL’s single-elimination playoffs each year. Outside of the club’s NWSL championships in 2018 and 2019, Johnson brought them to win five other trophies.

“We’re incredibly pleased to welcome Curt to Denver NWSL,” Rob Cohen, controlling owner of the club, said. “He’s been a part of building some of the most successful organizations in our sport, and we’re thrilled to have him shaping the future of the club.”

While Johnson’s success in the league shows promise for Denver NWSL’s first season, his handling of a head coach’s sexual misconduct allegations has divided fans.

Johnson appeared in former U.S. Attorney Sally Yates’ investigation of league misconduct, which found that there was a lack of fundamental safety measures for players.

In 2022, the United States Soccer Federation released a report after The Athletic detailed credible accusations that Paul Riley sexually harassed players on the 2013-2015 Portland Thorns team. He was then hired by the now North Carolina Courage in 2017.

The following season, Johnson retained Riley as head coach, despite knowing the details of the Yates report. It recounted how Riley invited former players to drink at his apartment and encouraged them to kiss in front of him.

“Through those communications, NCFC learned of an alleged incident in which Riley had players up to his apartment, where two women kissed,” the report said. It also found that the Thorns management did not provide full information to the Courage.