801-422-7696 But we must choose to surround ourselves with light. We then let those negative voices speak loudly in our headswith phrases such as Im not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, or skinny enough. 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. They were two more in a long line of All-Americans Rockwood helped produce. "We are thrilled to have Ellie coming to BYU," said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. Its helped prepare me in everything Ive ever done, especially being involved in coaching.. During the run it was important to stay strong, positive, and confident, even though there were continual doubts. Far from a program, that's a dynasty, a consistent achievement layered by the individual bricks of three decades of top athletes the majority of which came homegrown from Utah and the surrounding region. Rock said gaining a following for soccer was extremely difficult for the womens team. I took that opportunity to see where it would lead, she says. 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. Copyright 2023 BYU Marriott School of Business. I see my players play their best. And they needed one kick to seal it. [3], Rockwood was born to Jerry and Kae Rockwood as the oldest of five children, with her brothers being named Jon, Jason, Jared, and Jeffrey. While Rockwood was tackling her business degree in the Tanner Building, she was also picking up additional training around the practice field. "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 at the head of it all was coach Rockwood. 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 went on to graduate from BYU, serve a mission, and bless the lives of all those she came in contact with. Unlike basketball and football, soccer doesnt adhere to a recruiting calendar; Rockwood may be traveling any given weekend to watch prospective athletes. [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. Leave Feedback watch together The mission of BYUtv is to create purposeful, engaging viewing and listening experiences that entertain, inspire, uplift, and improve families and communities. It is what we have been taught and counseled to do. Build anyway. [7] Twice Rockwood has led the Cougars to the NCAA's Elite 8: 2003[8] and 2012. Athletes playing for Rockwood have seen continual success over those 27 seasons. 14 BYU at 4-2 on the season, and 400-116-44 under the long-time head coach. Practice or not, it didnt matter to her or the team. Though intimidated by her new role, Rockwood didnt break stride, taking on the new challenge in the same way she always had: by working her hardest. 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. 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. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. To take His name, I will be strong Inside was a beautiful hand-knitted blanket with the full BYU Cougar logo in the middle. We must choose our friends and those we associate with very carefully. There was BYU's head coach, seated across from a teenager who couldn't stop asking questions. "We knew we had the potential, but we wanted to put it all together so she can finally have this awesome accolade to an amazing career at BYU. The event starts in Logan and winds through the Wasatch Back to finish in Park City. We live in a world in which our lives are busier, noisier, and more stressful than evera time when nothing stops or even slows down. 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. So much of the time, we need that little spark to keep us going.. With that team, the Cougars knew they had a chance to do something special from the moment they lost to Virginia 2-0 in the second round of the NCAA's unique spring tournament that cut short an 11-4-1 campaign truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the school announced plans to move to Sandy, Utah, and a new school called Meridian was established in Provo, Rockwood hesitated over her next movebut not for long. overrideButtonText= As I take my place, I will stand Life is a journey, and we must always embrace iteven when we are asked to do something that we thought was absolutely unimaginable. 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. Be kind to yourself so that you can be kind toothers. 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. My headlamp was the only source of light through the two and a half miles of switchback trails. These are questions we must ask ourselves on a daily basis. What a blessing for all of us to be at this great institution. Her mom was quick to point out that her daughters experience at camp that week had been life changing. As President Monson stated, we want to be a light even to total strangers.. They continue to teach me so much, but one player truly stands out. A city that is set on anhill cannot be hid. View All. 2 in the country in 2012, Finished seasons ranked in the top 10 sixtimes (1998, 2000, 2003, 2012,2016 and 2019), Finished seasons ranked in the top 25 13times in 25seasons, Third coach in NCAA history to start a program and win 300 games while there, Sixth NCAA coach to win 300 games at one school, 10 of her student-athletes have been on the shortlist for the MAC Hermann Trophy with five semifinalists and one finalist (Mikayla Colohan), Her players have won 11conference Player of the Year awards, five Defender of the Year awards, three Goalkeeper of the Year awards and six Freshmen of the Year awards, Named 2016 Women's Coach of the Year at the Governor's State of Sports Awards, Named the 2021 National Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches Association. As graduation approached, Rockwood found herself at a crossroads. BYU was a team on the rise. Conference tournament champion. This poem has had a profound impact on my life, and I refer to it often. The Lady Cougars have compiled a 16-1-1 record on the year and look to be in good shape to win the West Coast Conference championship and make a run in the NCAA playoffs. We cant do it unless we walk in the light of the Lord. To many in South America, soccer was akin to a religion. [4], Rockwood coached high school soccer for the Waterford School girls' team and the Meridian School's boys' and girls' teams prior to gradating from BYU. They will spend countless hours together at practices, in the weight room, and on the road throughout almost every weekend during the season and the summer. When she became the head coach of a club-turned-NCAA-sanctioned team in 1995, nothing was ever promised. I think we always felt the program would be successful, so we werent surprised, Smith-Bretzing said. I didnt really believe a lot in myself the first few years, she says. With the Big 12 on the immediate horizon, dont be surprised if success happens rather quickly. Sometimes the more progress we make toward the light, the more temptations may come. With so much that has been provided for us by a loving Heavenly Father, much is expected. I used to panic in my finance classes when they would be looking to call on someone to do a presentation or share a thought. 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. no time to be drawn away from the things of the kingdom of God. Im just a soccer coach! And then I thought, Oh, nothose new Marriott Center screens are way too big!. She happily accepted both offers. This story is part of the March 2022 issue of TheDaily Universe Magazine and magazine show (below). Im here to see how good we can be.. 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Here are some words of wisdom that I believe They want us to know, to repeat to ourselves, and toalways remember: You are a beautiful child of God, made inHis perfect image. Soccer? By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. Studied Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University. However, no matter what is thrown at us or whatever temptations and obstacles and kinds of darkness come our way, we always have a choice. Are you an example of the Savior in your words, thoughts, and actions? But for Rockwood, it's never been about the wins, the honors, the trophies or even the 18 All-America designations received by her players. Rockwood, BYU Radio Live play-by-play broadcasts, coaches shows, Behind the Mic press conferences, interviews, etc, 407-118-45record and a .714win percentage, Fifth in NCAA DI in active winning percentage, 11th in NCAA DI in activecareer victories, 14th in NCAA DI all-time career victories, Four-time WCC Coach of the Year 2012,2014,2018 and 2019, Two-time MWC Coach of the Year 2000 and 2008, Two-time West Region Coach of the Year 1996 and 2012, 2019 United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year, Earned BYU its first national seed in the NCAA tournament in 2005 (No. As members of the Church trying to build the kingdom, we can be assured that we are prime targets. 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. If BYU womens soccer fans have learned anything from Rockwood, it is that success always follows this program. In her 27 years as head coach, Rockwood's Cougars have made the NCAA tournament 21 times. 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. That major put me in positions where I was uncomfortable and forced me to do things beyond what I thought I could do, she recalls. 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. Some have had big roles, some small, and some have made all the difference. In this experience and in life, the lighted path is not always easy to follow, but it is the only way to reach our desired destination. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. I mentioned that maybe they should just spend a little more time with her, get to know her, and sit with her at lunch or dinner. It's a sport of people, and that's something I always took from her. In that time she amassed an overall record of 128-25-9. Structural Info Known for movies 46 of Rockwood's players have gone on to win All-American awards.[10]. The Cougars have reached the Elite Eight in 2003, 2012, 2019 and 2021. Clinging to the light is a choice, and often that choice is challenging. BYU Speeches Now after more than two decades in her position, Rockwood has met and overcome numerous struggles. Her dream was to play on the womens basketball team, but she knew reality was unlikely to cooperate. BYU women's soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood finally reached the top of the mountain BYU has made the College Cup, the Final Four in women's soccer, for the first time in school history and will meet Santa Clara on Friday in a national semifinal By Jay Drew Dec 2, 2021, 3:24pm PST SHARE The Broncos are 8-0-1 playing at home, which they will do Friday and potentially in Sunday's final after the NCAA moved the College Cup from nearby PayPal Park due to a potential scheduling conflict with the MLS Cup Playoffs. It was one of the few runs that took place on a trail in the middle of nowhere at 2:00 a.m. To me it emphasizes the importance of making a personal commitment to stay strong in our faith. Facebook gives people the power to. Neither the WAC nor the WCC held a conference tournament, so the highest achievement BYU could attain during those regular seasons was the regular season title. She is the only coach the school recognizes since the club joined NCAA competition in 1995. 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