A mom of four boys, lifelong player, coach, team manager, board member, and youth advocate, Tina has spent years pouring into the soccer community both on and off the field. From coaching her boys in the early years to leading in club, school, and community spaces, her passion for the game runs deep. Soccer means family — creating an environment where every player and family feels supported, valued, and connected. She believes success is about more than what happens on the field; it’s also about how we show up for one another off the field. Her mission is simple: inspire young people, especially girls, to believe they can achieve anything they set their minds to through hard work, guidance, and perseverance.
1. Can you share your journey into your current role?
I am a mom to 4 boys who either played their youth soccer career under an ASA program or are currently active on a team under an ASA program. I began as a recreational coach when my oldest son was 4 years old (he is now 20 and plays at the collegiate level) and just continued my journey as a coach with each of my boys from U6-U8 age groups-once they reached the U10 age group I handed them off to my husband-their dad to take over and he has coached them from there-and he has coached them through the club side and I took over as team manager for each of those teams. I have also served on Board of Directors for AYSO recreational side and on planning committees for AYSO United and started a parent booster club at my boys high school. I also played this wonderful game for 23 years up to college level so you could say soccer is in my blood.
2. What does being a part of the soccer community mean to you?
Family. My soccer Community is an extension of my family. I want to make sure that any player or family that we have on any of our teams are taken care of and know that we are family not just another team. The success of a team is not just what they do on the field but also what they do off the field!
3. If you weren’t actively participating in the development of youth soccer, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
My heart is with building our youth community. I believe that with the right guidance all of our youth can have an impact somewhere in this world-they just need positive guidance to get there. I have been and currently am a Center director of a local Early Childhood Center where I currently have 140 plus kids and 25 staff that I oversee and take care of
4.Who has been a role model or mentor for you in this space?
My mom has always been my role model
5. What initiatives, programs, or events have you been part of that made a real difference?
Starting a booster club along with another parent at my kids high school where we have been able to provide meals for teams during away games, get team warmups and shirts-something that school has never had before
Our club’s opening ceremony event that we have in August to kickoff our new season each year
6. How do you inspire others especially young women and girls to get involved in soccer?
By setting forth the example that you can do anything you work towards-making your dream a reality! Also reminding them that achieving those goals require effort and hard work but rewarding once you get to where you set forth to be. We can do anything we set our minds to.
7. An angel investor has offered you $1m to grow the game of women’s soccer, how would you invest this money?
I would build a facility or create fields where we provide more opportunities to play and learn the game of soccer-it would be a facility that would be able to accommodate all ages with indoor and outdoor fields as well as a classroom environment. It would provide resources for furthering soccer careers whether it be as a player, coach and/or trainer
8. If you could watch a match anywhere in the world, where would it be?
England
9.What’s one change you would love to see in women’s soccer in the next 5 years?
Giving women’s soccer the recognition they deserve and continuing to see the presence of women in soccer and what they do on and off the field for the game.
10.Favorite motivational quote or mantra?
Take your victories, whatever they may be, cherish them, use them, but don’t settle for them. -Mia Hamm
11.Best book, movie, or TV show about soccer you’ve ever seen?
The Big Green
12.What’s your favorite piece of soccer gear or memorabilia you own?
99 World Cup Final t shirt and my Mia Hamm Cleats I wore in high school