Deana Waintraub is an NSCAA member and also a coach starting out in the profession. She is currently an assistant soccer coach at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She played collegiate soccer at the University of Louisville and the University of Dayton. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Deana began her coaching career at Catawba College in North Carolina.

Deana talked with us about her experience as a budding soccer coach and her transition from being a player. Here's what she had to say.

1) Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Deana Akemi Waintraub and I am originally from Toronto, Canada.  At a young age, I decided that I wanted to play soccer at the highest level that I could and go to the US and get an education.  I started my collegiate career at the University of Louisville in 2005 and then transferred after two seasons to the University of Dayton, where I graduated in 2009.  Upon graduation, I went on to pursue my Master's in Education at Slippery Rock University, while being the Graduate Assistant with the Women's Soccer Team, to continue with my passion for the game and be able to give back to a sport that gave me so much.  I graduated in 2011 and went on to coach at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, after one season I accepted the Assistant position at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and am now the Assistant at the University of Minnesota.  

2) What do you enjoy most about the coaching profession?

Throughout my growing up and career, I had a number of inspirational mentor figures.  I looked up to them and sought out their guidance to help prepare me for adulthood.  It was my goal to become that for the student-athletes that I have the privilege of working with.  It is my responsibility and desire to help them grow and mature into adults in order to become a professional in their field of interest. I enjoy seeing them go through the recruiting process, then matriculate through their degree, and then take that next step.  It is such a rewarding process.

3) How did you begin your professional career?

In addition to wanting to play soccer at the highest level position, I also realized that I wanted to coach and/or teach, as they are very similar to one another.  I started coaching at the age of twelve with my local club to help out with their camps and clinics, and loved it.  That's when the cycle started for me and I wanted to continue to give back to the cycle!

4) What specifically has helped you to become a better coach?

I have experienced a lot of different coaching styles from playing at the provincial level, training with NTCO, playing at two Division I schools, and having worked for several different types of coaching styles while coaching, but the one thing that has helped me to become a better coach was my experience in the classroom throughout my student-teaching experience.  I was in a gymnasium with limited equipment and 20-35 students at a time, I had to put together daily lesson plans, term long curriculum, and then plan to over plan in the event that something changed last minute.  I learned to become adaptable, I had to constantly reflect about my lessons, and determine whether I needed to make any revisions.  That experience truly helped me to become a more reflective coach and better help the student-athletes.

5) What professional aspirations do you have?

I have aspirations to become a Head Coach at a collegiate soccer program and use the skills that I have acquired along the way to become the leader of a program.

More from Other Coaches:
Kelly Grant, Catholic University of America, Assistant Coach
Allison Martino, Rice University, Assistant Coach

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