Let's be clear: we don't know exactly why Johns bolted. But when an organization churns through leadership this fast, the problem isn't the people leaving — it's whatever they're leaving. This is a pattern, not a fluke.

Bay FC arrived in the Bay Area with considerable fanfare as the National Women's Soccer League's newest franchise, backed by high-profile ownership and big promises about building something lasting in a market that loves its soccer. The on-field product has shown flashes of real promise. But behind the scenes? It's starting to look less like a well-run organization and more like a startup burning through founders.

Here's the thing about professional sports franchises: they're businesses. And businesses that can't retain executive leadership signal one of two things — either the ownership group is impossible to work with, or the organizational structure is a mess. Neither inspires confidence from sponsors, partners, or the fans being asked to invest emotionally and financially in this team's future.

The Bay Area sports landscape is littered with cautionary tales of franchises that squandered goodwill through dysfunction (looking at you, pre-Lacob Warriors). Bay FC has a real opportunity in this market — women's soccer is growing, the fanbase is passionate, and San Francisco is starving for a team it can rally behind without needing a second mortgage for tickets.

But none of that matters if the front office is a revolving door. Stability isn't sexy, but it's the foundation of every franchise worth caring about. Bay FC's ownership needs to figure out what's driving people away — and fix it — before the fans start heading for the exits too.