READING, PA (February 6, 2023) –  Reading United A.C. is pleased to announce the completion of its women’s coaching staff with the addition of Rachel Hoffman as the Associate Head Coach for its first-ever Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) team. Hoffman will complement head coach Tom “Goose” Gosselin and Asst. Coach Amanda Bezner to round out Reading United’s WPSL coaching staff.

Hoffman, a former Wyomissing High School standout, was the Spartans’ leading goal scorer and was named All-Division, All-County, All-State and All-American her senior season.  Her accomplishments continued at the NCAA DI level at Penn State. She was the Big Ten conference-leading goal scorer notching 15 goals and 10 assists her sophomore year.  Hoffman concluded her collegiate career in 1997 as the Lion’s most decorated player - being a four-time All-Big Ten and NSCAA All-Region selection ending as the Big Ten’s all-time scoring leader setting every PSU career scoring mark.   

Following her collegiate career, Hoffman played for the New York Power in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA), the first women’s professional soccer league in the United States.

Hoffman returned to Berks County after college and in 2014 became the Wyomissing High School girl’s Head Coach.  She has led the Spartans to a 129-52-7 record, two Berks County Championships, three consecutive District 3AA Championships, and a State Semifinal appearance over the past nine seasons.

"Reading United A.C. and I are so lucky to have Rachel joining us. Rachel is a true standout in the local and national soccer scene.  Her commitment to local soccer and her successes as a coach are a direct correlation to the tenacity and dedication she brought during her playing days. Rachel is a top notch coach and an outstanding role model for our program,” said Gosselin.

Hoffman commented, "I am excited to be involved in the beginning of the first women’s professional team in Berks County. I am looking forward to coaching with Tom again and working with the talented players from Berks County and the surrounding areas to make Reading United the premier women’s team in the WPSL."

Reading United Vice President and Co-Owner, Art Auchenbach added, “Rachel’s experience as a professional player combined with her historic high school coaching success, lends immediate credibility to our endeavor and will undoubtedly be a positive factor in helping our players take their soccer aspirations to a higher level.  Thanks to Rachel, Tom, and Amanda, very few teams will have the coaching and playing experience in women's soccer like the Reading United WPSL team staff.”

Reading United A.C. continues its preparation for the upcoming 2023 season with open tryouts for its men’s USL League Two and women’s WPSL teams on March 5th and 12th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Alvernia University’s turf field. The team will utilize Alvernia as its home field for both teams, with USL League Two and WPSL schedules soon to be announced by the respective leagues. Season and individual game tickets will be able to be purchased at readingunitedac.com/tickets following the announcement.