Colorado Rush Appoints Sheryl Hopeau as Executive Director of Operations

Veteran youth soccer administrator takes charge of the Club’s operations, finances and community work, partnering with President and CEO John Carroll to lead the organization and strengthen its sporting program

The Columbine-Lakewood Colorado Soccer Association, known throughout the Front Range as Colorado Rush, today announced the appointment of Sheryl Hopeau as Executive Director of Operations. Hopeau stepped into the role on October 1, 2026.

The appointment establishes a clear two-pillar leadership structure for the Club. Hopeau will lead operations, finance, community and the overall family experience, while John Carroll, President and Chief Executive Officer, continues to lead the organization and strengthen its sporting program coaching, player pathway and competition. Together they will set the direction of the Club and the experience it offers its families.

Hopeau brings leadership experience spanning the past two decades to Lakewood. She has supported youth soccer clubs across the Rush Soccer and Surf Soccer communities, as Director of Operations for Hawaii Rush Soccer Club, where she oversaw day-to-day club operations and helps guide the administrative, financial and organizational structure across all branches.

She is also the founder of Elite Sports Admin, a business that provides back-office, administrative, financial, marketing and operational support to youth sports clubs. The work is built on a straightforward idea: when the systems behind a club run well, coaches and families get to focus on the game. Through Global Sports Experiences, she has connected clubs, coaches, players and families with opportunities to travel, compete and experience soccer internationally.

“We set out to find someone who could take full ownership of the business of the Club so that our coaches could concentrate on what they do best. In Sheryl we found that, and a great deal more. She has spent her career building the systems that let clubs grow without losing what makes them worth belonging to. Our families will feel the difference.”

— Emilio Romero, Chairman of the Board, Columbine-Lakewood Colorado Soccer Association

“What drew me to Colorado Rush is how much this community plainly cares about its kids. My job is to make sure the organization behind that community is every bit as strong — that registration is simple, that communication is honest, and that families always know where they stand. Working alongside John, we have a real opportunity here, and I cannot wait to get started.”

— Sheryl Hopeau, Executive Director of Operations, Colorado Rush

“Having someone of Sheryl’s caliber running the operational side means our coaches can give their full attention to developing players. That is a significant step forward for this Club, and for every kid who pulls on a Rush shirt.”

— John Carroll, President and Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Rush

For families, the appointment is intended to be felt in the everyday things: clearer communication, smoother registration, better-run tournaments and events, and a single accountable point of contact for the questions that arise off the pitch. Hopeau will also lead the Club’s relationships with Rush National and its partners, and represent Colorado Rush across the wider soccer community.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Hopeau describes her approach as relationship-driven, centered on building stronger organizations, creating meaningful opportunities for young athletes, and supporting the people who make youth sports possible.