Will Cleary’s Family: Girlfriend, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on September 23, 2026 by Miguel Manjate

Will Cleary is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. Born on February 17, 2003, in Windsor, Connecticut, Cleary grew up surrounded by both education and sport at The Loomis Chaffee School, where his parents worked. After becoming a standout three-sport athlete at Loomis, he continued his soccer career at Stanford University before Charlotte FC selected him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.

Cleary comes from an exceptionally athletic family. His parents, Joe Cleary and Nancy Cleary, were both college athletes before pursuing careers in education. Nancy played basketball and volleyball at Williams College and became one of the most accomplished basketball players in the school’s history, while Joe competed in soccer and lacrosse at Siena College. Will also has an older sister, although her name has not been publicly established in the reliable sources reviewed. As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that Cleary has a girlfriend, wife or children.

Does Will Cleary Have a Girlfriend?

Will Cleary has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend through Charlotte FC, Stanford University, interviews or established sports reporting. Most of the public information about his life outside soccer centers on his parents, sister, education and upbringing at Loomis Chaffee.

Cleary is still in the early stages of his professional career, having joined Charlotte FC’s first team in 2026 after completing his time at Stanford. Consequently, his private relationships have received very little media attention.

Although personal photographs or social-media interactions can sometimes lead to speculation about athletes’ relationships, they are not sufficient evidence to identify someone as Cleary’s girlfriend. A relationship should only be presented as confirmed if Cleary himself or a reliable source publicly establishes it.

Does Will Cleary Have Children?

There is no reliable public information confirming that Will Cleary has children. Neither his Stanford biography nor Charlotte FC’s official player information identifies him as a father.

Recent profiles of Cleary have provided relatively detailed information about his family and living arrangements after joining Charlotte, yet none mention a son or daughter.

Who Are Will Cleary’s Parents?

Will Cleary is the son of Joe Cleary and Nancy Cleary. Both of his parents work at The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, the same school where Will grew up and later became an accomplished student-athlete.

His family’s connection with Loomis goes back to the beginning of his life. When Will was born, Joe and Nancy were living in an apartment connected to one of the school’s dormitories while serving as resident advisors. By the time Will was in first grade, the family had moved into a house on the Loomis campus.

Growing up in that environment gave Will unusual access to athletics. He could walk outside, find students playing sports and spend time watching Loomis teams train and compete. Soccer players at the school became some of his earliest sporting role models.

His parents also understood competitive athletics from personal experience. Both were college athletes, and that sporting background helped create an environment in which Will could explore several sports rather than concentrating exclusively on soccer from an early age.

Will Cleary’s Mother: Nancy Cleary

Will Cleary’s mother is Nancy Cleary, who works at The Loomis Chaffee School as Director of Admission and Financial Aid. She has spent much of her professional career working in education while also playing an important role in her children’s upbringing.

Nancy was herself an outstanding college athlete. She attended Williams College, where she competed in volleyball and basketball. Stanford’s official biography of Will notes that his mother was a multi-sport captain and held the school’s career rebounding record.

Loomis Chaffee has provided even more detail about her basketball career. Nancy scored 1,472 points and collected 962 rebounds while playing for Williams. Her achievements eventually earned her induction into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Her athletic background later became useful while raising Will. Rather than pushing him to specialize in soccer, Nancy and Joe allowed their son to continue playing different sports throughout school.

Nancy Cleary’s Role in Will’s Soccer Development

Nancy was deeply involved in Will’s sporting life from childhood. In a 2026 interview, Will described his mother as the type of dedicated soccer parent who made sure her children had everything they needed, from drinks and snacks to help dealing with physical problems.

One example involved the knee pain Will experienced during his teenage years. Nancy researched ways to help him manage the problem and looked for different methods that might allow him to remain comfortable while participating in sports.

Will later acknowledged that this required considerable sacrifice from his mother. She was balancing a demanding career at Loomis while caring for Will and his sister and supporting their activities.

Nancy was also involved in one particularly important decision during Will’s youth career. He had an opportunity connected with the New England Revolution Academy, but regularly traveling several hours for training would have placed enormous demands on the family.

Because Loomis already offered an excellent soccer environment, the family decided that Will could continue developing closer to home. That allowed him to pursue soccer while also remaining involved in basketball and lacrosse.

Will Cleary’s Father: Joe Cleary

Will Cleary’s father is Joe Cleary, a mathematics teacher at The Loomis Chaffee School. Like Nancy, Joe competed in college athletics before beginning his career in education.

Joe attended Siena College, where he played both soccer and lacrosse. Loomis Chaffee reported in 2026 that he remained active in soccer and continued playing in a men’s league.

Joe’s experience in two sports meant that Will grew up with parents who both understood the value of athletic versatility. Will eventually participated in soccer, basketball and lacrosse throughout his time at Loomis, earning 12 varsity letters across the three sports.

Although soccer ultimately became Will’s profession, he has credited his experience in other sports with helping his development. Basketball, for example, helped him understand defensive footwork that later became useful when he transitioned into a full-back role at Stanford.

Will Cleary’s Parents Are Both Educators

Education is another major part of the Cleary family story. Nancy and Joe have both spent their professional lives working at Loomis Chaffee, with Nancy working in admission and financial aid and Joe teaching mathematics.

As a result, Will effectively grew up on a school campus. His mother has recalled that the campus community knew him from childhood and that he had considerable freedom to participate in activities and interact with students.

Will also excelled academically. At Loomis, he entered the Cum Laude Society, received the Founders Prize and served as a tour guide and peer mentor. He later carried that academic success to Stanford.

At Stanford, Cleary studied Management Science and Engineering and received Academic All-America recognition. He deliberately structured his studies so that he could complete his degree quickly enough to pursue professional soccer without leaving his undergraduate education unfinished.

That balance between academics and athletics closely reflects the environment created by his parents.

Does Will Cleary Have Siblings?

Yes. Will Cleary has an older sister. Her existence is confirmed by recent reporting involving both Will and his mother.

However, her name has not been reliably published in the principal Stanford, Charlotte FC and Loomis Chaffee sources covering Will’s family. She appears to maintain a private life outside the attention associated with her brother’s professional soccer career.

Will Cleary’s Older Sister

The Charlotte Ledger confirmed that Will grew up alongside an older sister. Cleary also referred to his mother’s sacrifices for both himself and his sister when discussing Nancy’s role as a parent.

His sister was present for one of the biggest moments of his career. In December 2025, Will was at home with his parents, his older sister and the family’s dog, Leo, while waiting for the MLS SuperDraft results.

The family repeatedly refreshed the draft information until Will realized that Charlotte FC had selected him with the 22nd overall pick. Nancy later recalled how excited her son became when he saw that Charlotte had drafted him.

The moment demonstrates that Will’s sister remains part of the close family group supporting his career, even though she has not developed a public profile of her own.

No reliable source reviewed for this profile identifies additional brothers or sisters. His older sister is therefore the only sibling who can currently be documented confidently.

Will Cleary’s Athletic Family Background

Athletic ability extends beyond Will and his parents. His maternal grandfather, Bill “Moose” Hedeman, was also a talented basketball player.

Loomis Chaffee identifies Hedeman as a member of its Class of 1954 and says he played basketball both at Loomis and later at Williams College. Nancy therefore grew up in an athletic family herself before passing that sporting environment on to Will and his sister.

Will’s family history consequently includes at least three generations associated with competitive sport: his grandfather played college basketball, Nancy became a successful Williams basketball player, Joe competed in soccer and lacrosse, and Will eventually reached Major League Soccer.

Will Cleary’s Childhood at Loomis Chaffee

Will’s unusual childhood environment helped shape both his academic and sporting development. Because his parents worked and lived at Loomis Chaffee, he spent much of his childhood surrounded by older students and athletes.

He has recalled watching the school’s soccer players when he was young and thinking they seemed extraordinarily talented. Those players inspired his ambition to eventually wear the Loomis jersey himself.

Cleary eventually achieved considerably more than that childhood goal. He became a two-year captain of the Loomis soccer team and earned Connecticut Prep School Player of the Year honors.

But soccer was only one part of his athletic experience. Cleary played four varsity seasons in each of soccer, basketball and lacrosse, earning 12 varsity letters in total. He also became a New England basketball champion.

His ability to continue playing several sports was something his parents supported rather than discouraged. That experience eventually helped create the versatility that became important when Stanford converted him from a midfielder into a defender.

Will Cleary’s Family and the 2026 MLS Breakthrough

Charlotte FC selected Cleary with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft following his senior season at Stanford.

The club officially signed him to his first professional contract on February 19, 2026. After initially spending time with Crown Legacy FC, Cleary began receiving opportunities with Charlotte’s first team.

His first MLS start came against the New England Revolution on May 23, 2026. Cleary learned the previous evening that he was likely to start and immediately contacted his parents.

Nancy and Joe flew from Connecticut to North Carolina the following morning so they could watch their son’s first MLS start in person. An aunt and uncle also made the trip.

Cleary responded with an impressive performance, assisting the only goal in Charlotte’s 1-0 victory and earning Man of the Match recognition.

Afterward, he spoke about the emotions of having his relatives there to witness a moment he had dreamed about since childhood. Nancy also described the occasion as particularly emotional because becoming a professional soccer player had been Will’s goal for as long as she could remember.

The parents could not remain in Charlotte for long. They flew back early the next morning because Nancy had responsibilities at Loomis Chaffee’s commencement ceremony, illustrating the continuing connection between the Cleary family and the school where Will grew up.

Will Cleary’s Mother’s Influence During His Rookie Season

Nancy’s influence continued to receive attention after Will became an MLS player. During a 2026 feature about Charlotte FC mothers, Will discussed how consistently she had supported him and his sister throughout childhood.

He remembered Nancy providing the practical help associated with youth sports while simultaneously dealing with her responsibilities at Loomis. Her involvement extended beyond simply attending matches, as she actively tried to help him through injuries and physical challenges.

Will’s comments suggest that his mother’s contribution to his career was less about directing his soccer ambitions and more about creating the support structure that allowed him to pursue them.

That approach appears consistent with the family’s decision to let him remain a multi-sport athlete rather than forcing early specialization.

Will Cleary’s Family Dog Leo

The Cleary family also has a dog named Leo. Although naturally not part of his human family tree, Leo was mentioned in the detailed account of the night Will was selected in the MLS SuperDraft.

Will was sitting with Joe, Nancy, his older sister and Leo while waiting to discover whether an MLS club would select him. Charlotte eventually used the 22nd overall pick on the Stanford defender.

That draft-night scene provides one of the clearest glimpses available into Cleary’s close family life away from professional soccer.

How Important Is Family to Will Cleary?

Cleary has repeatedly included his family when discussing the major milestones of his career. His parents were there during his development at Loomis, his mother devoted considerable time to supporting him and his sister, and the whole immediate family experienced his MLS draft selection together.

His parents also traveled at short notice to attend his first MLS start, while an aunt and uncle joined them. Cleary later said that sharing such a major achievement with his family made the occasion considerably more emotional.

The family’s influence extends beyond soccer. Nancy and Joe’s careers in education and their own experiences as college athletes helped establish an environment in which academic performance and sporting ambition were treated as complementary rather than competing priorities.

That background followed Cleary through Stanford, where he became both a team captain and an Academic All-American, before making the transition to professional soccer with Charlotte FC.

Frequently Asked Questions About Will Cleary’s Family

Who is Will Cleary’s girlfriend?

Will Cleary has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through reliable club, university or media sources. His relationship status remains private.

Is Will Cleary married?

There is no reliable public information confirming that Will Cleary is married.

Does Will Cleary have children?

No children have been publicly confirmed for Will Cleary through reliable sources.

Who are Will Cleary’s parents?

Will Cleary’s parents are Nancy Cleary and Joe Cleary. Both work at The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, and both were college athletes.

Who is Will Cleary’s mother?

Will Cleary’s mother is Nancy Cleary, Director of Admission and Financial Aid at Loomis Chaffee. She played basketball and volleyball at Williams College and was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.

Who is Will Cleary’s father?

Will Cleary’s father is Joe Cleary, a mathematics teacher at Loomis Chaffee. He played soccer and lacrosse at Siena College and has continued playing soccer recreationally.

Does Will Cleary have siblings?

Yes. Will Cleary has an older sister. Reliable reporting confirms her existence, although her name has not been publicly established in the principal sources covering his career.

Was Will Cleary’s mother an athlete?

Yes. Nancy Cleary was an accomplished basketball and volleyball player at Williams College. Loomis Chaffee reports that she finished her basketball career with 1,472 points and 962 rebounds.

Was Will Cleary’s father an athlete?

Yes. Joe Cleary competed in soccer and lacrosse at Siena College.

Who is Bill “Moose” Hedeman?

Bill “Moose” Hedeman is Will Cleary’s maternal grandfather. He played basketball at Loomis Chaffee and Williams College, adding another generation of athletic achievement to the family.

Where did Will Cleary grow up?

Cleary grew up in Windsor, Connecticut, largely on the campus of The Loomis Chaffee School, where both of his parents worked.

What club does Will Cleary play for?

Will Cleary plays for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. Charlotte selected him 22nd overall in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft and signed him to his first professional contract in February 2026.