Hollis Kosco, BA Speech Communication '94, has built a career that spans continents and stadiums, but her journey began on the soccer fields at George Mason. A former member of 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.

As the world turns its attention to soccer's biggest stage this summer, Kosco will be part of the team supporting FIFA World Cup 2026, adding another remarkable chapter to a journey that scales premier sporting events around the world, including 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, headquartered in the Miami area. Her work requires complex operational planning across three countries, 16 stadiums, and 48 participating national teams. Truly a global citizen, Kosco has resided in most of the event locations since preparations began years in advance. 

Her journey began when she arrived at George Mason as a student-athlete inspired by the Patriots' historic women's soccer tradition.

Kosco said she first became interested in Mason after watching the Patriots capture the 1985 NCAA Women's Soccer National Championship, a landmark achievement that helped put the university on the national map. She ultimately chose 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 evolve rapidly. What began as a smaller regional institution transformed into one of the nation's leading public universities, and she takes pride in seeing how far Mason has come since her student days.

"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 communications 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."

The upcoming FIFA World Cup also carries a unique George Mason connection for Kosco. During her time with the Patriots, she was a teammate of Kelley (Harlow) Pulisic, a standout defender in the Mason women's soccer program and the mother of current USMNT star Christian Pulisic. Christian's father Mark played forward at GMU from 1986-89 and is in the GMU Men's Soccer Hall of Fame.

The connection serves as another example of the far-reaching influence of Mason's soccer program, which has produced leaders and contributors to the sport at every level.