Nathan Jones
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For as long as I can remember, sports has been the center of my life. My parents introduced me to a variety of sports at a young age, but I ultimately narrowed it down to two: soccer and rugby. In the U.K the set up of sports in slightly different to the U.S. You have to narrow down to one sport from a much early age. At age 12 I was invited to trial at Tranmere Rovers Football Club who at the time were in the 3rd tier of English soccer. I joined there academy at age 12 and was there until 18. I was released at 18 after failing to gain a professional contract. This was a heartbreaking moment for me and that's where the chance to study and play in the U.S came from. I have never looked back since. I joined Urbana University a DII school in Ohio and played for four seasons. I graduated in December 2017 with a degree in Sports Management. I started a marketing/communication internship with the Urbana Athletic Department during my Junior year, with the idea that I wanted to pursue a career in the sports field. After 1 year as a Intern with the department I realized this was not the area of the sporting field I wanted to be in. I had began coaching at the age of 16 with local youth clubs in the U.K and it was something I fell in love with. I have since gone on to hopefully forge a career for myself in the college soccer world and it is somewhere I hope to stay. Giving back to the game I love is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world. |
Professional Goals
My professionals goals are ultimately to continue to progress and develop in the collegiate soccer world and hopefully go on to lead my own program in the next 5-10 years. Professionally I want to continue to develop under the leadership of my mentors and also continue to expose myself to some of the best in the game. This internship with Pacesetter Soccer Club gives me the chance to be under the direction of Daniel Fisher a well known and respected soccer coach both in the U.S and the U.K and someone who has worked with some of the best in the world in Joe Hart, Andre Gray and Conner Goldson. Getting the chance to learn under his direction will only enhance me personally and professionally.