.Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 11, 2024, 10:25 AM ETCloseSam Borden is a senior author for ESPN.com.PARIS-- One day last winter, Crystal Dunn sent Emma Hayes a text.The notification was actually one thing along the lines of, "Ma'am, I listen to gossips!" Dunn remembered recently, and also it was actually originated in the bubbling opinion at the time that Hayes was visiting become the brand-new train of the USA women's national team.Dunn, a professional protector who had played a season under Hayes at Chelsea just before transferring to the NWSL, pointed out Hayes seemed to be thrilled however was actually justifiably scrupulous in their exchange, and Dunn ended it through saying to Hayes: "I wish it's true. Given that I think you're mosting likely to be actually amazing." Nearly 10 months on, that interaction lives sizable in Dunn's mind first and foremost given that Hayes carried out in simple fact end up being the USA train and also, in a whirlwind beginning, has actually presently supplied: The Americans gained an Olympic gold medal on Saturday in Hayes' 1st primary event in charge.Editor's Picks2 RelatedIt is actually, through any type of measure, an advantageous starting point for Hayes, who merely came on the work in June after completing the club season. But it is additionally illustratory of what the future may store for a course that is really precisely changing.In a brief opportunity, Hayes has actually touched the team's staffs, tactics and also playing style in significant techniques, aside from making highly effective individual hookups-- a number of which were harder than others-- while additionally driving her group to find the delight the players taste of one another." She is actually carried out many points and trained our company in such a way that our team've really required," united state leader Lindsey Horan said.U.S. onward Sophia Johnson, that scored three goals in the course of the Olympic initiative, featuring the dramatic game champion in added time of the semifinal, stated it a lot more just: "Our team're a different crew." That is no little accomplishment, either, provided the condition of the program a year back. After being eliminated in the sphere of 16 at last summer season's Female's Planet Cup-- the most awful finish ever before in a primary event for the united state-- the group went on coming from coach Vlatko Andonovski as well as looked toward what had been actually an unavoidable recalibration.Hayes, who won 5 league titles in a row at Chelsea, had never taken care of worldwide but was actually extremely acquainted with United States gamers after coaching at Iona University and at several expert levels in the united state from 2002 to 2012. She got here with ideas and started applying them correct away.Her style-- and also some of the characteristics that players practically globally say they value-- is to become sincere and also frank. Other coaches might possess consisted of Alex Morgan, the American essential in attack, on the Olympic lineup, so since it would be the much easier option for a new person coming in nevertheless, Morgan is one of the best U.S. goal scorers in history. But Hayes possessed no instinct to soothe any individual, determining that Morgan had not been a fit for the type she would like to participate in and also liking as an alternative to go with a much younger group.As it appeared, the opponents she opted for-- Johnson, Mallory Swanson and also Triad Rodman-- were actually among the standouts of the competition, with every one providing a decisive target in three forthright 1-0 success for the USA as it swept via the knockout rounds.A gold medal in the 1st few months of her tenure goes over, however Emma Hayes has much greater prepare for the USWNT and USA Soccer. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty ImagesHayes failed to merely toss the trio together, either. She tweaked Johnson's playing style, asking her to poach additional around the objective instead of falling deeper as she finishes with her club staff. As well as she motivated all 3 gamers to reveal themselves, to trying out their cooperation, using a flexibility within their offered duties that resonated.Rodman suggested her highlight-reel, game-winning target in the quarterfinals as an instance. That strike, a blistering left-footed blast coming from proximity that ripped right into the top edge of the target, was actually a try Rodman thought about simply since she recognized Hayes wouldn't determine her if she blasted it twenty yards over." I had shanked one almost for a throw-in right before that," Rodman claimed. "But possessing her as a coach, you type of know that that is actually not heading to change the way that she's looking at the activity and also to just keep making an effort traits." Defensively, Hayes created changes, as well. Leaving Behind Naomi Girma in place was a piece of cake-- "She is actually the very best defender I've ever before seen," Hayes stated-- but partnering her along with Tierna Davidson and after that boosting the protection through featuring deep-lying midfielder Sam Coffey, who was left off Andonovski's World Mug roster, are one of the moves Hayes created with confidence.STREAM FUTBOL AMERICAS ON ESPN+H erculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar question the biggest stories and also break down the best highlights that football in the Americas needs to provide. Stream on ESPN+ (USA only).She has additionally changed some settings around, participating in Dunn as more of a go-forward winger than she has been in recent, for instance, while also confining her alternatives and lineup improvements in general. While that undoubtedly triggered boosted exhaustion, Hayes stated she yearned for the players to "experience" considering that she believed that building chemical make up between her leading gamers was actually more important." I presume anytime there is actually newness as well as improvement, it is actually always a little rejuvenating in any sense merely to create that change," pro goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher claimed. "And also I believe you can see every person type of approving it and approving her." Methods aside, taking care of the personalities of a group of gamers of varying grows older and experiences is a challenge all on its own. A few of Hayes' function in that region is actually general as well as fun-- she generated a karaoke maker for the crew, which quickly became a focal point of the team's downtime. (According to Horan, Flower Lavelle recognizes the verses to numerous tracks that she doesn't even need to take a look at the display screen.) There are problems and also Legos to likewise help them connection, but Hayes has actually worked to build partnerships with the gamers that manage deeper. Dunn pointed out that she and Hayes bonded over being actually mommies, and that she and also her instructor would chat just about daily regarding what it is like to handle enthusiasm for work with the ache that comes with being away from your little one." It's like you try your complete ideal to be capable to commit to each parenthood and also being actually a player, and also I presume that occasionally it is virtually inconceivable to harmony," Dunn mentioned. "She is actually had the capacity to allow me to have my insane moments when I'm like, 'I desire him near me,' however simultaneously [inform me], 'All those sensations that you really feel are actually rather usual.'" Hayes additionally made up a shut connection with Korbin Albert, the skilled 20-year-old midfielder who pulled criticism after social networking sites blog posts in which she seemed to assist anti-LGBTQIA+ web content. (She later excused doing so.) Hayes demonstrated that she has no determination for anyone that does not wish to cultivate a broad area, yet additionally stated her inclination as a mama is actually "to safeguard." Hayes feels that Albert recognizes the value of the oversights she made and is actually legitimate regarding desiring to belong to the crew, therefore as an instructor she wishes to help her grow. On Sunday, Hayes handed Albert a start in the last against South america, and also Albert delivered a best through-ball to set up Swanson for the winner.The very clear expenditure coming from her coach cued Albert to speak passionately about Hayes and what that type of support indicates to her." It's tough love often," Albert mentioned, "and it's actually great simply to possess her listed below as well as simply teaching me and also assisting me in every step in every means personally as well as on the football industry." She advises me of my mommy at times." Remarkable as this position show was from Hayes, both she and also USA Soccer understand that this is a long-lasting play. Hayes' deal goes through the 2027 Women's Planet Cup, and while a gold medal in the very first few months is impressive, the much larger objectives lie ahead.Hayes possesses ideas on just how to revamp the ability identification system, the gamer advancement system and the sychronisation in between young people nationwide staffs and the elderly team. She has think about how she wish to find united state teams play. She dreams on how this program might cut through a sporting activity that is acquiring deeper each day, if it is actually pointed in the right direction.First, though, she is actually wanting to eventually reach totally unpacking her boxes coming from Chelsea. Then, possibly, a handful of times off. After that the push will proceed in ernest." Tonight, our experts possess a gold medal, however it doesn't indicate it ends there certainly," she mentioned. "We are just at the start.".