Hollis Kosco, BA Speech Communication '94, has built a career that spans continents and stadiums, but her journey began on the soccer fields at 91°µÍø. A former member of George Mason's 1993 NCAA national runner-up women's soccer team, Kosco has turned her athletic experience into a global profession in sports management and operations.
Kosco is part of the team supporting FIFA World Cup 2026, adding another remarkable chapter to a journey that includes roles with the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, seven Olympic Games, two Asian Games, and the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games.
Kosco serves as a senior transportation manager for FIFA World Cup 2026, which is based in the Miami area. Her work requires complex operational planning across three countries, 16 stadiums, and 48 participating national teams.
Her journey began when she arrived at George Mason as a student-athlete. After watching the Patriots win the 1985 NCAA Women's Soccer National Championship, a landmark achievement that helped put the university on the national map, Kosco's interest in George Mason grew. She ultimately chose George Mason not only for its growing soccer program, but also for the opportunity to live on campus, compete at the Division I level, and be part of a diverse university community.
"Mason felt like home," Kosco said. "The soccer program, the people, and the opportunities all stood out to me."
A 2024 Alumna of the Year award-winner, Kosco has watched the university’s rapid evolution. When she enrolled, the university was a smaller regional institution, a world of difference compared to the George Mason of today—a leading public university and the largest public research university in Virginia.
"I've loved watching Mason grow," Kosco said. "The university has become nationally respected while still maintaining the sense of community that made it special."
Kosco credits her time at Mason with shaping both her professional career and her personal outlook. As a communication major, she developed skills that continue to guide her today as she works on the international stage with FIFA.
"Mason taught me how to communicate, connect with others, and understand different perspectives," Kosco said. "Those experiences prepared me for opportunities I never imagined."
Now preparing for a summer surrounded by the world's top soccer nations, Kosco still carries lessons learned as a Patriot. She points to the culture of hard work and perseverance instilled during her time at Mason as a driving force behind her success.
"You don't strive to be the smartest or the best," Kosco said. "You just keep working hard and don't give up."
Fun Fact: During Kosco’s time with the Patriots, she was a teammate of Kelley (Harlow) Pulisic, a standout defender in George Mason’s women's soccer program and the mother of current USMNT star Christian Pulisic. Christian's father, Mark, played forward at George Mason from 1986 to 1989 and is in the university’s Men's Soccer Hall of Fame.