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Rally Madison FC Announces Club Advisory Board

Celebrated Wisconsin Icons Bring Expertise To RMFC Athletes In 2026

MADISON, WI: Rally Madison FC has announced the founding of the RMFC Advisory Board ahead of their inaugural season. The board will consist of a number of Wisconsin sports icons and local leaders.

The purpose of this board is to provide a holistic player development program that offers a myriad of strategies and support for RMFC athletes to find success both on and off the pitch. This comprehensive approach ensures that every Rally Madison FC athlete is equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of a professional sporting career as well as the ability to thrive as individuals outside of the sport. 

The board’s notable members will provide expertise and offer robust support across numerous facets of the athletes’ professional and personal development, encompassing areas such as financial literacy, NIL and brand building, media training, mental health support, amateur to professional pathway generation and community engagement. 

It has always been the intention of Rally Madison FC to be committed to fostering the exhaustive development of its athletes, serving as a vital springboard for them to launch successful soccer careers. However, this means more than just on-field training. The implementation of our advisory board ensures the success of our athletes, not only in their sport but also as well-rounded, capable individuals prepared for life beyond professional athletics. The establishment of this dedicated advisory board reinforces this commitment. This board will be instrumental in enabling RMFC to provide invaluable lifelong skills and personalized advice to its athletes on an entirely new and elevated level.

Meet the Board: 

Lauren Sesselmann – Mental Health Advocacy and Mentorship

Lauren Sesselmann is a Wisconsin-native hailing from Green Bay. A soccer legend, Sesselmann played for the WPS, NWSL and the Canadian national team, appearing in the 2015 FIFA World Cup and winning bronze in the 2012 London Olympics . Beyond soccer, Sesselmann has been an outspoken advocate for mental health, particularly as it pertains to athletes. Sesselmann will provide her mental health mentorship to the Rally Madison FC athletes in 2026 as a major part of the RMFC Advisory Board in its first year. 

Jay DeMerit – Athlete Development

Jay DeMerit is another soccer legend who played in the MLS, Premier League, and on the international stage for the U.S. Men’s National Team. DeMerit’s role with the Rally Advisory Board will include helping the athletes achieve their athletic career goals. 

Mason Crosby – Leadership

Mason Crosby is another Wisconsin sports legend. Crosby was a kicker for the Green Bay Packers and holds the franchise record for all-time leading scorer. Crosby will lend his expertise in leadership to the RMFC Advisory Board. 

Bianca Miceli – NIL and Brand Building

Bianca Miceli was instrumental in bringing women’s volleyball to Madison through LOVB. Prior to her time with LOVB, Miceli worked directly with collegiate athletes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Brand Storytelling, amongst other roles over her 10 years there. Miceli brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in personal brand building to the RMFC athletes. 

Karen Menédez Coller– Community Engagement

Menédez Coller currently serves as the Executive Director of Centro Hispano, an impactful community organization focused on youth programming, immigration and family services, and fostering community connection. Karen will be an essential resource for both Rally Madison FC and the athletes in creating meaningful community impact and relationships through sport. 

Michelle Behnke – Career Development and Leadership

Behnke currently serves as the President of the American Bar Association, as well as a member of the Boardman Clark law firm. She has not only shown an expertise in her career, but a commitment to her communities. In recognition of her incredible work, Behnke has been awarded the Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award. Her experience and guidance in career development and leadership will be invaluable to the Rally Madison athletes.

About Rally Madison FC: Rally Madison FC will begin play in May of 2026, featuring the top pre-professional players in the country. More information on the Club and USL W League can be found at www.rallymadisonfc.com. Purchase your Season Tickets here. 

Dawn Crow Named Director of Girls Program Development

Rally Madison FC have announced the addition of esteemed soccer coach, Dawn Crow, as the new Director of Girls Program Development, a key leadership role supporting the continued growth of the Club’s girls pathway. 

A four-time NCAA Division I National Champion as a player at the University of North Carolina—part of a historic 97-1-1 program—Crow brings elite playing and coaching experience to Rally Madison, including NCAA Division I and III coaching roles.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Dawn Crow to the Forward Madison FC and Rally Madison FC youth initiative as our Director of Girls Program Development,” said Forward Madison FC Youth Director, Aaron Hohlbein. “Dawn’s addition is a massive boost to our club and to the continued growth of meaningful, high-quality soccer pathways for girls in the Madison area. First and foremost, Dawn is a wonderful human being who genuinely cares about creating opportunity, access and belief for girls and women in the game.”

Crow is a Wisconsin Women in Soccer advisory panel founding voting member, Girls ODP National Team Coach, Region 2 Head Coach, 30 for 30 mentor, and a member of the inaugural United Soccer Coaches TLC Learning Class. She brings extensive experience in player development, coach mentorship and program building. She will play a central role in shaping the long-term vision for the Rally Madison girls program. Her focus will include supporting coaches, aligning curriculum and standards across age groups and strengthening the developmental pathway for girls within the Rally Madison FC ecosystem.

“For me getting in at the ground level is a huge plus. I have been in Wisconsin now for over ten years and I realize we still have a long way to go in promoting the women’s game, having a daughter and a son will do that to you,” said Crow. “My son has more options than my daughter has, and I can help girls find their passions in soccer as well. It is truly humbling to be in this position, but after speaking with several leaders at Forward Madison FC and within the Academy, the passion that these men have to start a women’s side and wait a year to make sure we have the right structure in place and the right investment shows how seriously they want this to be the ‘place to be’ for promising women’s soccer players. If I put my efforts behind something, it means I have found people who share the same beliefs that I do and are doing things the right way instead of keeping the status quo. Forward Madison is extremely forward thinking – ‘Why can’t we be a power player in the women’s soccer landscape in Madison, too?’ Iron sharpens iron and this is going to be a fun environment. I can’t wait to get started.”

In this role, Crow will work closely with club leadership, coaches, and partner organizations to ensure that RMFC girls players are provided with a challenging, supportive, and aspirational environment — one that emphasizes both individual development and collective growth.

“It’s not every day that a four-time NCAA Division I National Champion, a long-time collegiate coach, and an ODP National Team Coach chooses to invest that level of experience back into youth development,” Holbein said. “Her leadership, perspective, and passion will have a lasting impact on our players, coaches, and the future of girls soccer within our club.” 

Crow’s addition represents an important step in the club’s commitment to expanding opportunity, raising standards and building a clear and sustainable pathway for girls within Rally Madison FC Youth. Registration for Rally Madison FC Girls Youth Programs are now open. 

About Rally Madison FC: Rally Madison FC will begin play in May of 2026, featuring the top pre-professional players in the country. More information on the Club and USL W League can be found at www.rallymadisonfc.com. Purchase your Season Tickets here.