Aurora names Saara Hassoun as Chief of Staff

Minnesota Aurora FC has appointed Saara Hassoun as the club’s new Chief of Staff.

Hassoun, who will report to the Minnesota Aurora FC Board, will be the club’s advisor and operational manager responsible for the overall alignment and execution of the organization’s day-to-day operations. In her role, she will oversee communication across departments, prioritize and track projects and tasks, and act as a sounding board for ideas and supervise key club objectives.

“As we begin our fourth season, we continue to strive for ways to improve and set the club up for long-term success, and adding Saara to our staff is critical to moving the club forward,” said Allie Schmidt, Aurora Chair of the Board. “She brings immense experience at the highest level of women’s professional soccer in this country, and with her knowledge and expertise in both the team and business side, we can’t wait to see how she will help us continue to grow and build for our future.”

Hassoun comes to Aurora after serving as the Chief of Staff at NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), including during the team’s run to winning the 2023 NWSL Championship. At Gotham FC, she managed soccer operations, oversaw staff and player well-being, and directed business operations on the sporting side of the club. 

“I’m incredibly excited to join Minnesota Aurora FC. I’ve admired this club since the beginning – not just for the on-field success, but for the way Aurora has always led with purpose, community, and heart,” said Hassoun. “It’s an honor to join a team that’s redefining what’s possible in women’s soccer. Building on the incredible foundation of our supporters, community owners, and staff, I’m looking forward to helping shape the next chapter of Aurora’s inspiring journey.”

Before Gotham FC, Hassoun co-founded HT Sports Consulting, a consulting firm with a mission to elevate athlete well-being through data-driven insights and athlete-first methodologies. She also served as the business strategy and project management lead for a group of soccer-specific investors and worked as a management consultant, growing her expertise in project management and organizational strategy.  After Aurora’s inaugural season, Hassoun and HT Sports Consulting offered their services to evaluate the players’ experience in Aurora’s first season. The research results helped lead Aurora to add a mental skills coach for the 2023 season, recognizing the importance of providing mental health support for players.

Additionally, Hassoun is a Global Sports Fellow at Harvard University, where she conducts research on structural approaches to player well-being in women’s soccer. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.