As part of my job, I have the opportunity almost every week to tell young people, their coaches, and their parents what an amazing place this is: a university where students can reach their highest potential athletically, academically, socially, and spiritually and where everyone understands that they are not perfect but where they are committed to being their best. "Right now, I feel we are playing our best soccer.". Just so you know, I was the oldest on the team and by far the slowest runner. Both a mission and an MBA crossed her mind, but then she was offered a position as a coach and PE teacher for a local college-prep academy called the Waterford School. marriottmag@byu.edu, 16wSOC vs Long Beach State 832 (DONE).jpg. As I take my place, I will stand Aggression is the key in soccer, but so is patience, calmness on the ball, and tactical awareness in a game that can resemble both a chess match and a track meet and sometimes in the same 45-minute half. "Jen does a really great job of making every play feel cared for, that they matter, and that it's about them," said Colette Jepson Smith, the former Davis High standout who played three seasons at BYU and is now the head coach at Rowland Hall and Wasatch Soccer Club. But I think for me personally, I was like maybe this is what I am supposed to be doing because it doesnt make sense that we are having all of this success.. Never let fear hold you back. She was good enough to play at other universities, and I told her I would help her find a place. Think big anyway. And thats led the way for younger players to come through and wanna reach the success.. [BYU] came to me because I had kind of been the boss, in a sense, of the team before that, she says. He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who made it possible for us to live together again as one eternal family. Dream big dreams and find your passionitis never too late. For several years I have had the opportunity to participate in a team race that takes runners through some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. She was rated as the No. In 27 years as the Cougars head coach, Rockwoods resume includes seven Coach of the Year awards, 13 total conference titles and 27 All-Americans. But no amount of club soccer matches could prepare her for what was to come: coaching a fully sanctioned NCAA soccer team. "Honestly, Jen has been awesome. I have had the opportunity to coach amazing athletes over the years and we really have had some fantastic teams, some teams who have been really close, and we haven't quite been there. I thought they were a good program, Bertoch said of the program at the time, recounting how the club team had to charter their own buses and often slept when traveling in the homes of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One summer several years ago we had a young girl attend who was shy but also uncooperative, and she didnt want to participate in the drills or games with her group. We are in a battle between the light and the darkness each and every day. The pain of being so close to winning it all must have hurt, but as she normally does, Rockwood could only think about how much this meant to her players, especially to her two seniors Colohan and Tucker. I am a fighter, and I choose to walk in the light.. Once I had passed the arrow, I would scan again, trying to find another redlight. BYU had veteran coaches running its womens athletics, but soccer was a young sport in the state at the time, and Rockwoods experience with the club team set her apart. Follow Jennifer Rockwood, a four-year starter for BYU women's soccer, through her illustrious career as a player and coach. Meridian made her a full-time teaching offer, and BYU asked her to coach the club soccer team she had so recently left. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. She knew the sport of soccer. National champion I was a finance major, and I had no teaching credentials, no education classes, and no real experience. Ive always had a work ethic, and I was always very competitive, she says. Nothing gets fans ready for college sports quite like a good tailgate. 2021 Women's College Cup preview, ahead of semifinals, Marriott Center They were two more in a long line of All-Americans Rockwood helped produce. I have been blessed to work with so many inspiring student athletes. They continue to teach me so much, but one player truly stands out. So it was good that I had room to build, and do what I did, and they kind of left me to my own.. While Bertoch has grown to love Rockwood, neither knew what to expect at the time. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a The search didnt go on long. She also became the first MWC coach to eclipse the 100-win and 200-win marks with a shutout at Milwaukee-Wisconsin, 2-0, on Sept. 23, 2000. Rockwood previously earned the honor in 2012, 2014 and 2018. Information in the story may be outdated Every soul who walks the earth, wherever he lives, in whatever nation he may have been born, no matter whether he be in riches or in poverty, had at birth an endowment of that first light which is called the Light of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, or the Spirit of Godthat universal light of intelligence with which every soul is blessed. I was super excited that we could get to do this. An excerpt from this week's episode of True Blue, Dave McCann talks to Jennifer Rockwood and Erica Owens about the expectations coming into next season, and . We have heard the saying I never said it would be easy, but it will be worth it. We all face challenges, and Satan loves to prey on us, especially during the difficult times. We must search the scriptures and the words of our prophets and leaders and seek after the truth. Rockwood started the women's soccer program at BYU and recently picked up her 400th college soccer win as a coach. And then comes the summer, when she oversees BYUs soccer camps, which bring more than 2,700 children and teens to campus over a period of seven weeks. But whether she was talking to current NWSL Golden Boot winner and league champion Ashley Hatch or a UNLV transfer from Kaysville like Smith who just wanted to come home after a year away, Rockwood always found a way to keep the focus on the players. It is very hard to describe. We all know that we live in a world in which there is increasing darkness, in which lines are blurred and the separation between the light and the dark is getting larger. Lets try it out.. On the national scene, her teams have made 22 appearances in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet Sixteen in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2012, 2016, 2019 and 2021. And although Iwasnt even aware of it at the time, I was actually a light for others. Rockwood led the club team to a 128-25-9 record, two Western National Collegiate Club Soccer Association titles and second place in the NCCSA National Championship match. Evidently they had been following my light all the way in. Jennifer Rockwood delivered a BYU devotional address titled "Drawn to the Light" on 15 March 2016. To me it emphasizes the importance of making a personal commitment to stay strong in our faith. Unfortunately, it was not to be. However, she believed in me, and she believed that I had a future in education and coaching. During the run it was important to stay strong, positive, and confident, even though there were continual doubts. I didnt necessarily get the best grades, Rockwood says of those tough upper-level classes, but I took pride in working as hard as I possibly could and making it through.. Bertoch fell in love with the game and now she had an opportunity to change her view on soccer forever, as something more than just a mans sport. All of these emotions leave us vulnerable, questioning, and sometimes searching for easy fixes. I am sure that we all have worked extremely hard and sacrificed much to be a part of this BYU community. Something most of you know and something I have come to learn over the years is that your mother and father are always your biggest fans. Do they help us see what is great about the world, or do they cast a shadow of negativity? We mostly have a choice of who we spend our time with. Completing her 21st season in 2015, head coach Jennifer Rockwood has taken the BYU women's soccer team to national prominence and has established herself as one of today's premier coaches of Division I soccer. The Broncos, who are 8-0-1 at home this year, are one of two teams to shut out BYU and its nation-leading offense that averages 3.50 goals per match. She lived her life to the fullest, fulfilled her mission on this earth, and was taken home to her Heavenly Father after a car accident in 2012. "In many ways, losing to Utah State may have saved their season," Smith said. But not even the 400-plus career wins, 14 conference championships and seven conference coach of the year honors can adequately describe the impact Rockwood has had at BYU since foregoing a basketball scholarship to Ricks College in 1984 and transferring to the club soccer program in Provo. Jennifer Rockwood, BYU. We are here to build the kingdom of God and to help our family and friends reach their highest potential. She wanted to be like the campers and players on the team and go to BYU someday. As you can imagine, it was a bit disconcerting, and it was very challenging to stay on the path. She helped turn a little-known prospect into a top scorer in the National Womens Soccer League in Ashley Hatch. Hopefully, when I deal with these campers, Im bringing a love for the game, a love for getting better, a love for training on their own, and a love for being kids and being a real teammate and what that means, she says. Although she was never quite at a level to play college soccer, she was inspired at a young age to make good choices during her high school experience, and she ended up attending BYU. As the leader of the firm's Global Power & Utilities Practice and Co-Head of the Private Capital Infrastructure Practice, she works across . We must ask ourselves: Are these individuals helping us to move toward the light, or are they allowing us to let some darkness slip in? Iamliable to find fault with this, that, and the other. Head coach Jennifer Rockwood, known for her focused determination on the sideline and for being emotionally defensive of her players, leaned in to anticipate the shot. And head coach Jennifer Rockwood's side is set to bring back all but one player from that team and now add Walbruch for a season that will undoubtedly contain sky-high expectations in BYU's. In order to slow down the madness of life, I love to retreat into nature. Her first interaction with the soon-to-be head coach Rockwood was one of intrigue, as neither had coached or been part of a program at the NCAA level. Do good anyway. "The head coach has to lay down the law, but she still has the ability to give players confidence. We have . "It is a huge milestone and I think anyone who goes into the coaching profession is trying to get to the final four and win a national championship. Cameron Tucker ranks second nationally with .84 goals per match, and Mikayla Colohan is fourth in scoring (.82 goals/match) and fifth in assists (.68 assists/match). Along with that comes the challenge of determining who will play and how much. overrideButtonText= In 2019, the Cougars entered the NCAA Tournament as the only undefeated team in the country with an 18-0-1 overall record at the close of the regular season. After three years of teaching PE for Meridian, Rockwood went to the headmaster and asked for a chance to try teaching in the classroom. . overrideCardHideDescription= The event starts in Logan and winds through the Wasatch Back to finish in Park City. "I didn't always appreciate it when I played, but I sure do now. Thats all it would take. It actually came to a point at which I had to make the decision to ask her to leave the team. There was a handwritten note on top, and part of it read: I am an inmate of the Utah State Prison. Each new season of recruits will be a major influence in our lives, so we must choose wisely. Over the last 25seasons at the helm of the BYU women's soccer program, Rockwood has accumulated a .714winning percentage. Jennifer Welsh Rockwood, 62 Resides in Orem, UT Lived In Provo UT, Pleasant Grove UT, Enumclaw WA, Auburn WA Related To Thomas Rockwood, Stephanie Rockwood, Perry Rockwood, Chase Rockwood Also known as Rockwood Jennifer Includes Address (8) Phone (2) Email (2) See Results Jennifer Jeanne Rockwood, 49 Resides in Dickinson, TX . I personally feel I was in the right place at the right time, she says. Both loved the game, but neither had any prior experience in helping a soccer team adjust to a new, higher level of play. While enjoying the spirit of the Lord, we want the light all the time. God has sent each of us here with a purpose, a plan, and a specific life to live. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. While I walk in the light of God my mind is open. http://speeches.byu.eduJennifer Rockwood was head coach of the BYU women's soccer team when she gave this devotional on 15 March 2016. Brigham Young Univers. Would someone who doesnt know you know that you have the light within you? Spurs snap 16-game losing streak by topping uninspired Jazz, Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting now accused of child rape, Bill mandating counties to provide homeless shelters, enforce camping laws passes Utah House, Troopers identify woman killed in crash near Nephi, Supreme Court seems ready to reject student loan forgiveness. BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) September 10, 2021 BYU is another prestigious women's soccer program that longtime head coach Jennifer Rockwood leads. Unfortunately, due to BYUs recent start as a NCAA sanctioned team, the relatively unknown WAC teams that BYU played against, and the limitation of only 48 teams that entered the tournament, the Cougars did not play in the NCAA tournament that year. I was young, I was cheap, and I had been here, so I knew a little bit about the soccer community.. All rights reserved. During the entire run I was scanning for any sign of a light, a marker, or even a blinking reflector from someone. We are aware that people are watching us, and you never know which lives can be touched, which doors can be opened, and what inspiration can be provided. Help people anyway. There was BYU's head coach, seated across from a teenager who couldn't stop asking questions. Always ready for a challenge, Rockwood has seen a pattern in her life of receiving unexpected opportunities, growing to meet them, and then receiving more. Now the Kaysville, Utah, native will take her talents to the professional ranks. Prior to becoming head coach at BYU, Rockwood led BYU's highly successful club soccer team for seven years. But it forced me to be prepared.. The poem reminded me that we always have the ability to make positive choices and see the light, even in the midst of darkness. I feel like I have the dream job, she says. At first I thought, Oh, thats thoughtful of himhes concerned about my foot. But I soon realized that he just didnt want me to slow down the team. She will likely be joined by Tucker, her teammate and close friend. You can mark this day He wants us to give up, and he places opportunities for missteps along our way. Her daughter had found new motivation, inspiration, and direction. After participating in basketball in the Fall-winter of 198485, Rockwood transferred and enrolled at Brigham Young University. Unlike basketball and football, soccer doesnt adhere to a recruiting calendar; Rockwood may be traveling any given weekend to watch prospective athletes. overrideTextColor= It is so important that we find ways in which we can inspire others. Zhao snuck the ball past Smith, and the Seminoles stormed the field, having clinched the national championship. Reading or replaying the story in its . Her years of experience playing and coaching soccerincluding six years at the helm of the BYU Womens Soccer club teamsuddenly seemed insignificant beside the challenge that lay ahead. I told them that maybe she just needed a little extra love and attention. You never know what light you might spark in others just through your kindness and your example. During her junior and senior years, she assisted the club soccer team behind the scenes in areas such as scheduling and budgeting, gaining a preliminary sense of the ins and outs of BYU sports administration. I thought it was unusual, but I opened the package. BYU, in part due to Title IX legislation, began its search to field another competitive womens team to add to its growing collection that already featured the likes of basketball, volleyball and gymnastics. She is the only coach the school recognizes since the club joined NCAA competition in 1995. Soon after, our van was starting to get ready for our second leg of runs when my friend Greg mentioned that maybe I should run a shorter leg that was half the length of what I was supposed to run. In a world thats weak And I will not change Inside was a beautiful hand-knitted blanket with the full BYU Cougar logo in the middle. After my first run of nearly six miles, I was okay, but it had been really hard and I had gone pretty slow. I know mine does. Video unavailable Watch on YouTube Watch on Universe Live Sports One penalty kick. Are you an example of the Savior in your words, thoughts, and actions? I wish she were here to sing it, but the lyrics include the following: Ive made my choice It was 1995, and Rockwood had just signed a contract to become the inaugural head coach of the newly sanctioned NCAA Division I BYU Womens Soccer programat the highest level of intercollegiate athleticsdespite having no prior Division I experience. Jen is a very competitive person to play on the club team was fun because shes very competitive like me, so we got along well, and at other times we didnt because wed be competing against each other., This competitiveness motivated each of them to greatness, and Smith-Bretzing appreciated that about her friend and coach. Besides, she points out, despite everything she and her teams have accomplished over the yearsconference championships, tournament appearances, and top-tier rankingssome goals remain unmet. As surely as there is God, there is Satan. In addition to playing soccer, she was a frequent participant in basketball, track, and softball. The Cougars led by All-American Mikayla Colohan and All-WCC First Teamer Cameron Tucker had taken the 2021 NCAA Tournament by storm. Rockwood has an impressive 407-118-45overall record for her career. Uh, so how do we do that?. And again, they gave me a lot of freedom in doing what I did, cause I was learning a lot myself. It was one of the few runs that took place on a trail in the middle of nowhere at 2:00 a.m. But we havent been to a Final Four, and we havent won a national championship.. Jennifer Rockwood Women's Soccer Head Coach Phone (801) 422-8732 Office SFH 206F Summary Full Bio Contact Years at BYU 1995-Present Career Highlights 407-118-45 record and a .714 win percentage Fifth in NCAA DI in active winning percentage 11th in NCAA DI in active career victories 14th in NCAA DI all-time career victories In whatever we are involved with here at BYU, we can make a difference. 14 BYU at 4-2 on the season, and 400-116-44 under the long-time head coach. Provo, UT 84602 I know whats right This is one way wecan search for the light. We cant do it unless we walk in the light of the Lord. She coached players into All-Americans. But the word was out. Athletes playing for Rockwood have seen continual success over those 27 seasons. I must admit that the first thing I thought when asked if I would be willing to speak was, Really? Other crucial figures came to help, as Carolyn Billings and Robyn Smith-Bretzing both joined the program in 1995. What an amazing opportunity it is to stand before you today. They surround us each day, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. Parents and players being disgruntled in decisions that you make becomes very challenging.. As a child in Chile, she watched soccer every day. This archived news story is available She continued to attend camp for several summers after that. BYU regularly maintains a consistent Top 25 ranking. If BYU womens soccer fans have learned anything from Rockwood, it is that success always follows this program. Although we are not perfect, we try to represent BYU the best we can. When she became the head coach of a club-turned-NCAA-sanctioned team in 1995, nothing was ever promised. Join Facebook to connect with Jennifer Hill and others you may know. "This means a lot," Rockwood said. A few weeks ago I heard from a former player from those days who wrote me an email telling me of an experience he remembered and a lesson he learned that has helped him over the years. That staff led by assistant coaches Brent Anderson and Steve Magleby, volunteer assistant Made Gates, and administrative assistant Rachel Jorgensen, has been instrumental in the Cougars' breakthrough year, and receiving West Regional Staff of the Year honors by the United Soccer Coaches this past week. She graduated with a degree in Communications and began her career working in broadcasting, including working for CNN and KBYU-TV. "I have known Ellie. Like Burleigh, Rockwood started the women's soccer program at BYU and is the 11th active Division I coach in wins. So many amazing people have crossed my path over the years, as I am sure many have crossed yours. I know that our Heavenly Father and our Savior are our biggest fans. So, I decided, What have I got to lose? View All. Provo, Utah 84602. BYU was a team on the rise. I leave you with my testimony that I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows us by our names, by our thoughts, and by our hearts. So I took the shorter run. After a back and forth match which saw the Cougars outshoot the Seminoles 9-7 including a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal both teams remained scoreless. I remember going up to the Utah High School Activities Association with other athletic directors, she says. Generally speaking, however, it was also seen as a male sport. We are to use our gifts and our individual talents to share the light and bring the light to others. I thought she was young, Bertoch said. Over the next 25 years, her team won conference titles. I am fifty-four years old, and in all my life I never was interested in watching any sports on TV. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. 490 Tanner Building You are loved, appreciated, and valued more than you will ever know. At first, Rockwoods coaching strengths didnt lie so much in the technical and tactical aspects of the game, so she focused her energy on creating a positive environment in which to build her players confidenceas well as her own. What an amazing opportunity it is to stand before you today. A visit to the basketball tryouts for Ricks College landed her a spot on the team there as well as a scholarship offer. . [5][6] After graduating, she became the club team's head coach in 1989 and led them to two Western National Collegiate Club soccer Association (NCCSA) Championships in 1993 and 1994. I think the seniors realize how much effort she's put into the program, the time to get us the right gear and everything else. BYU goes winless in four game series against Ragin' CajunsBYU baseball stayed in Louisiana after taking on LA Tech over the weekend to take BYU gymnastics defeats Utah State on senior nightThe BYU gymnastics team beat the Utah State Aggies 196.450 to 195.425 on senior night Friday in BYU women's soccer kicks off spring seasonThe 2023 BYU women's soccer spring season will see Jen Rockwood's Cougars play nine matches over five days BYU baseball splits four game series opener against LA TechBYU baseball traveled to Ruston, Louisiana to take take on LA Tech in a 4 BYU goes winless in four game series against Ragin Cajuns, BYU gymnastics defeats Utah State on senior night, BYU womens soccer kicks off spring season, BYU baseball splits four game series opener against LA Tech. With one final try gifted by the NCAA's free season of eligibility before scattering to various professional careers Colohan has already been drafted by the NWSL's Orlando Pride, and Moore delayed graduation until December for this season the Cougars did just that. archived form does not constitute a republication of the story. Class of 1989. Based in Miami, Jennifer Rockwood is a leadership advisor and search consultant who specializes in helping her clients navigate challenges rooted in business model disruption and digital transformation. We must choose our friends and those we associate with very carefully. BYU women's soccer head coach Jennifer Rockwood reached her 400th win at BYU on March 6 against Loyola Marymount, putting her among the winningest coaches in the NCAA. I try to make sure they feel that they are part of everything we do and prepare them to be great leaders, moms, business people, and coaches for the future. . Many years ago we recruited a young lady who had a special talent and gift for the game. In the October 19, 2013 match vs. the San Francisco Dons, Rockwood would amass her 300th win. 4 BYU soccer to 4-1 win over Alabama for Sweet 16 bid, Lauren Gustin shatters BYU rebounding record in Cougars' regular-season finale, 'It meant a lot to me': BYU seniors snap 4-game skid to set up WCC tourney, BYU senior transfers left mark on basketball program in transition, From 1 to 5: Tredyn Christensen's unique growth a boon to BYU basketball, It's here: BYU will open Big 12 play against Kansas, home against fellow newcomer Cincinnati, Storm's second wave heads for Utah, possibly adding 1-3 feet of mountain snow, Last of 5 teenagers sentenced in murder of 16-year-old Gavin Hone, Utah Rep. Trevor Lee says 'government overreach' during COVID-19 led him to run for office, 'A big deal': How a blighted Salt Lake City lot will become 200 affordable housing units, Pickleball injuries surge in St. George alongside growing popularity, Tank job? "It's all of those things and then, they've managed to stay mostly healthy.". March 10, 2016 Name: Jennifer Rockwood BYU employee since: 1989 My job is. I was pretty good at basketball, but I was short for how I played, she says. West Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year, BYU women's soccer clinches first-ever College Cup with 4-1 win over South Carolina, 'This feels right': 7 seasons later, BYU keeper Cassidy Smith has Cougars aiming for history, Colohan hat trick guides No. It was not an easy journey for her, and there were many times when she knew it would be easier somewhere else. But we must choose to surround ourselves with light. or superseded by additional information. BYU women's soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood has coached a lot of great teams, but this one may end up being her best ever. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Some have had big roles, some small, and some have made all the difference. This poem has had a profound impact on my life, and I refer to it often. I would like each of you to think about some of the individuals who have helped you get to where you are today. And we must be willing to do all the little things in order to reap the bigger rewards. Do you have that light in your eyes? Years ago President JamesE. Faust gave a talk titled The Light in Their Eyes. He recalled a historic meeting in Jerusalem about the new lease for the land on which the BYU Jerusalem Center would be built. . She built up the program from an extramural sport into an elite NCAA competitor. She was raised a long way from Provo, Utah, and had never really been around many Latter-day Saint players. Taking over the program in 1989, Rockwood is the only coach BYU has recognized since it made women's soccer an NCAA sanctioned sport in 1995. Photos by Bradley Slade, Marriott Alumni Magazine This battle was not fought alone. 801-422-7696 She happily accepted both offers. Player of the Year: Mikayla Colohan, BYU Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Loera, Santa Clara Goalkeeper of the Year: Amber Michel, San Diego Freshman of the Year: Izzy D'Aquila, Santa Clara Coach of the Year: Jennifer Rockwood, BYU 2019 ALL-WCC WOMEN'S SOCCER FIRST TEAM We can look to the west and appreciate the view of the lake, travel east and be enveloped in the canyons, or drive south and take in the magnificence and serenity of the red rock. However, I also mentioned that if this was where she really wanted to be and if she was willing to embrace her opportunity here and make some changes, then she would have the opportunity to join us again the following semester.

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