Shannon Seymour To Lead Women's U23 Team

Chicago House A.C. announced today that Shannon Seymour will lead the House Women’s U23 team as their first head coach.  Seymour, a veteran midfielder with the men’s first team, has played for House in both 2022 and 2023 for both the MWPL and U.S.O.C squads, and has several years of experience training and coaching dating back to his playing days at Northwestern University.

“Shannon has tremendous energy and his playing experience with the men's team, his understanding of our club culture and his appreciation of what it means to coach this team makes him a natural fit for this role, and I couldn't be more excited to have him coaching our U23 team. I am confident his leadership and experience will help our young players to do well this summer,” said women’s first team head coach and technical director, Henry Cheung.

“The U23's main goal is to develop talented players into players that will fit into the first team. Both teams will practice together once a week, so they get to know the first team players and understand my coaching philosophy and style. This collaboration will ensure they are ready to play for the first team towards the end of the season,” Cheung continued.

Seymour echoed Cheung’s thoughts on how the two sides will be working together and will strengthen the House women’s program, “I see the U23 team being the development and learning channel for the first team.  I think it’s a great way for those who can and do train with the first team to have the potential to earn minutes and make a greater impact throughout the summer on a team with a lot of young talent.  So, women that maybe aren’t getting a lot of minutes with the first team can play with us and gain experience which will be good for their development in reaching the first team level,” said Seymour.

Seymour’s hometown is Bourbonnais, IL where he grew up playing for the Chicago Fire Academy and was a member of the U.S. Youth National Teams U14-U18. After graduating from Northwestern University, he signed a professional contract with Lansing City Futsal Club and played for MWPL foe Steel City before joining House in 2022.

As his career progresses, Seymour plans to begin his professional coaching license journey this spring when he will take the Grassroots Licensure course in March.

“Coaching the U23 women’s team is a continuation of my House career.  It gives me a chance to be involved and set myself up to be involved with House when my playing days are over.  I chose the women’s side because the men’s side in America is very much established and developed.  I work with both young men and women, and I think there’s a stronger place for me to try and advance the women’s game,” Seymour continued.  

“I don’t train my girls any differently than I train my boys and the expectation is that it doesn’t matter who is across from you, whether it’s a boy or it’s a girl a smaller kid or an older player, can you battle and find the confidence that you need? I think having that mindset as a coach plays a strong role in developing these players.  I feel like I’ve been called more towards the women’s side of the game than the men’s when it comes to coaching,” said Seymour in regard to his coaching philosophy.  His coaching experience ranges from working with children ages six all the way through adults who are now playing at the professional level.

The U23 side will play in the PSL/NISL, which will see training begin in May with the season beginning in June and will run through July.