The Tampa Bay Hellenic is the culmination of a dream to bring a higher level of Women's soccer to the Tampa area, both for the benefit of the soccer public and to benefit the player that wishes to push her game to a higher level. We hope to fill a void in the Tampa area allowing all area soccer fans the chance to see some of the best women players in the United States and the World.

While providing an entertaining game for the public, the team will also be allowing the player a place to compete at a high level to better prepare herself for first, the college game, and after that, the professional game. With the return of the Women's Professional League in 2009, a team of this level is more important than ever.

The Tampa Bay Hellenic is an amateur athletic organization and has applied for non-profit status. The team is a Player Development Team, thereby providing an avenue for women to develop and improve their skills and pave the way for them to play at a higher level, whether that be collegiate or professional. We intend to continue to foster and encourage the sport of soccer for all women.

Our inaugural season began in May 2008 and ended successfully in July 2008, with just one win shy of competing in the post season in our very first year. Our team was compiled of players ranging from the high school level to collegiate to post collegiate, and we hosted players from all over the U.S., with international players from Canada, Spain, and Scotland.

During our inaugural season, we hosted groups of children from area charities providing them with a day of fun and food, and we hope to expand on that work, bringing more soccer to the children involved with these organizations.

The team's name, the Hellenic, is a tribute to the Greek heritage of the head coach, George Fotopoulos. George is a former player at the University of Tampa and has coached at the club level as well as the collegiate level at University of Tampa and LSU. He has achieved incredible success as a coach and we are lucky to have someone with his resume guide our team.

Our assistant coach is George's wife and former National Team Member Danielle Fotopoulos. Danielle's achievements are too long to list here, but a few highlights are: World Cup Gold medal winner with the 1999 Nat'l team, NCAA Nat'l Champions with the 1998 Florida Gators, NCAA career record holder for most goals scored, and 1st inductee into the UF Hall of Fame. Danielle has so much experience to share with the team and the combination of our two coaches is sure to bring a quality game to the playing field.

The Tampa Bay Hellenic is a team for the entire Tampa Bay area and we invite all of you to become a member of the Hellenic family.