University of Kansas women's soccer assistant coach Jessica Smith is a former NSCAA High School All-American who helped guide the Jayhawks as a player to great success, leading them to the soccer Sweet 16 in 2003 and a Big 12 championship in 2004.

Smith is hoping to lead the JayHawks to the same success as a coach. As part of the NSCAA’s unique 30-Under-30 program, focused on identifying the next great soccer coach, Smith is eager to learn everything she can. And, she is eager to share that knowledge.

“I believe my path in life was meant to help teach the game,” Smith said. “In addition, I am excited to share with each new class at Kansas the tremendous life lessons the game offers.”

It’s clear that Smith already has plenty of experiences to share.

Smith served as a volunteer assistant at Kansas for two years from 2009-10 before being promoted to full-time assistant coach at her alma mater in July 2011. In her first season as an assistant coach working with the Kansas offense in 2011, KU alum Jessica Smith helped the Jayhawks collect their second-most goals in program history (46) while their 131 total points marked the third-highest output in a KU single season. One of the most successful offensive players in program history, Smith played for the Jayhawks from 2002-05, scoring 16 goals in 83 games.

Before her current role with KU, Smith coached at various levels in the Kansas City metro area, including as a varsity assistant coach for both the boys' and girls' teams at Olathe Northwest High School. During her time at ONWHS, she helped lead the Lady Ravens to back-to-back region championships in 2008 and 2009, while assisting with the Ravens' boys regional championship team in 2007. Several of her players on both the girls' and boys' sides went on to play soccer at the college level.

In addition to her coaching duties at Olathe Northwest, Smith has served as a coach with the Kansas State ODP girls' program. In 2008, she was an assistant with the 1992 team, which was the first Kansas ODP team (boys or girls) to win an ODP Regional Championship. Her team went on to participate in the US Youth Soccer National ODP Championship tournament. Smith is currently working with the 1996 team.

Smith has also spent time working with TOPSoccer programs throughout the state of Kansas as a chairperson as well as a coach. TOPSoccer is U.S. Youth Soccer's outreach program for children with special needs. 

“I also wanted to get involved in girls soccer in the Lawrence community so I have worked with Sporting Kaw Valley to create a new curriculum for their All Girls Academy, ultimately to retain more female soccer players in the city,” Smith said. “The focus of the academy is the technical development of girls age U9 through U12. 

 “I have always had a strong desire to learn and that passion is a key part of who I am and where I want to go as a coach,” Smith said.

Smith was kind enough to offer the following perspective on these questions from the NSCAA:

NSCAA: What does being part of the NSCAA 30-Under-30 mean to you?

Smith: For me, being a part of the 30-Under-30 program is an opportunity to get better and push myself to grow.  Unlike a traditional coaching education course, the 30-Under-30 program lasts a year so this creates a really unique educational opportunity with many different aspects that a typical 4-9 day course would not provide.  I feel extremely privileged and honored to be a part of this program in the inaugural year.

NSCAA: What message would you have for other young coaches about how the NSCAA could help them develop?

Smith: The NSCAA is an unbelievable resource for all coaches, but specifically for young coaches who are so fresh and open for ideas.  The tools and resources are available for anyone to use, but the choice is yours as a coach to stay within your own ideas and experiences, or choose to draw from others’ so that you can grow. 

NSCAA:  How important is it for young coaches to glean information from veteran coaches?

Smith: It is extremely important for young coaches to look towards veterans for information and ideas on the game.  It’s one thing to read a book to learn X’s and O’s, but it’s completely different to actually gain information from a coach who has experienced the ups and downs of the game and who’s put in the time to learn the game on the field.  Personally, I really value any conversations I get to have with coaches who have more experience than I do.

NSCAA: With the surging boom of soccer in this country, how important is it for the many new faces and coaches in this country to "blaze their own trail" as leaders for the NSCAA?

Smith: Honestly, I really believe that now is the time for all coaches, whether they are new to the game or a veteran coach to challenge themselves to be better.  In order for our professional leagues and National teams to get better, we must help develop better players at each of our respective levels.  Whether you are a youth coach or a college coach, now is the time to challenge our players and ourselves. 

NSCAA: College soccer remains instrumental in the continued growth of the women’s game.  Why is it so important to you and the game?

Smith:  First, I’m so happy that the NWSL has had much success this year and I hope for continued strength & growth for the league.  The league is huge for our game, but the reality is that only a small percentage of female players will get the chance to play professionally in the United States. Which is why college soccer remains to be a vital part of the growth of the women’s game.  Young girls must have something they dream of and stride towards. At the youth level, I would say it’s about 50-50 with girls knowing that they could go to college and get to play soccer.  You ask a male youth player and he will tell you he’s going to play for Sporting KC when he’s older.  These are two vastly different dreams.  We must show young girls that there are many opportunities for them to keep playing the game and be successful.

NSCAA: Can you break down the other components of coaching the NSCAA has been able to teach you outside of the X's and O's of the game?

Smith:  I think one of the biggest parts of the coaching profession I have learned from NSCAA is the power of networking and communication. To be able to send an email to a coach you’ve met at Convention to ask how she handles mental fatigue with her team or ask what she would do in a specific situation is sometimes more valuable than the strategy of the game. 

NSCAA: Knowing what you know about this unique NSCAA 30-Under-30 program, what are you most looking forward to taking advantage of?

Smith:  I am most looking forward to being paired with a mentor.  I have a circle of mentors now, but most have known me as a player and now as a coach.  I’m looking forward to working with someone who is completely new to me so that I can get a different perspective on the game. 

NSCAA: What else should the NSCAA know about Jessica Smith?

Smith:  I’m really passionate about my role as a coach and the responsibility I have to help young people feel more positively about themselves.  No matter what level I coach at, I know that I will always ask myself “is this the best for the kids?”  or “is this the best for the team?”  If I always keep these questions in mind, I know I will be the kind of coach I want to be. 

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