Do good anyway. At the close of the season, the Cougars were ranked fifth nationally. Clinging to the light is a choice, and often that choice is challenging. These were great womenincluding Lu Wallace, Elaine Michealis, and Ann Valentinewho in 1995 took a chance on a young coach who had no real NCAA coaching, recruiting, or managerial experience but who had a dream and a vision of what BYU soccer could someday be. In that time she amassed an overall record of 128-25-9. One of the most rewarding and proud moments of my coaching career was to give Jenavieve Phillips a big hug on the field after her last game as a Cougar and congratulate her on an amazing journey. 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. 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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. We must be disciplined and dedicated, and we must look for opportunities to learn and grow. BYU CLUB RECORD:128-25-9; six years as club coach. She is the only coach the school recognizes since the club joined NCAA competition in 1995. The best advice I've ever gotten about coaching is. There is something about the way they play. Postseason invitational champion 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. One of my favorite songs is titled I Will and is written and performed by Hilary Weeks. You can mark this day Im not here to just win games, 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. [BYU] came to me because I had kind of been the boss, in a sense, of the team before that, she says. 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. She hustled to stay ahead of her students, reviewing all of the course material at home to make sure she was well prepared. But what a blessed life and what a ride it has been. 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. Now after more than two decades in her position, Rockwood has met and overcome numerous struggles. Are you an example of the Savior in your words, thoughts, and actions? I personally feel I was in the right place at the right time, she says. This archived news story is available What an adventure! We are so blessed to live at the base of majestic mountains. Before long, she was accepting an offer. coach to your personality. Does your life seem too busy at times? Im pretty sure in todays world my scenario would not happen, Rockwood says. I can comprehend it and understand the signs of the time and the working of the Spirit of God, and when a thing is presented to me by [the] servants of God, I can receive a testimony of the truth of that; but when Ilose the light I dont comprehend those things. Billings became the first ever trainer for the soccer team, and Smith-Bretzing was one of Rockwoods first assistant coaches. I know that I will not necessarily tell you anything you havent heard before, but I hope that I might remind you of what you have always known and of what can so easily be forgotten in our demanding lives. Division regular season and conference tournament champion BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood celebrates after the 4-1 Cougar win over South Carolina in the NCAA quarterfinal match at South Field in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. I think we always felt the program would be successful, so we werent surprised, Smith-Bretzing said. 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. Sara Sparhawk and Lyn Johnson find joy in bringing entrepreneurial opportunities to women everywhere through their company West Tenth. Many years ago I was in the middle of some very challenging situations that not only caused me much doubt in my abilities but also made me question my own path. Just as the sun, the moon, and the stars light the landscape of this beautiful world, the light from above provides us with direction and purpose. Colohan buried the shootout's first kick officially marking the end of her brilliant BYU career. She is the only coach the school recognizes since the club joined NCAA competition in 1995. Each team member runs three different routes, and the whole team runs a total of more than 180 miles. 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. 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 . overrideTextColor= We did not see eye to eye on many things early on. [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. This often leads us to complain, blame, talk badly of others, and make excuses, and the light gets smaller and smaller and smaller. Without the light no man can see. We have more responsibilities, more pressures, more expectations, and more places to be, and we spend far too much time on our smartphones. Practice or not, it didnt matter to her or the team. "She's done so much for this program, and even for me personally," senior forward Makaylie Moore told BYUtv. After my first run of nearly six miles, I was okay, but it had been really hard and I had gone pretty slow. [Kent M. Keith, The Paradoxical Commandments (1968), kentmkeith.com/commandments.html; see also Kent M. Keith, The Mother Teresa Connection, kentmkeith.com/mother_teresa.html; Kent M. Keith, The Silent Revolution in the Seventies: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council (Washington, DC: National Association of Secondary School Principals, 1972), 8]. I will choose His way . 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. Video unavailable Watch on YouTube Watch on Universe Live Sports One penalty kick. I loved those guys, and we had a great time. Follow the light, seek after the light, and bethelight. As surely as there is light, there is darkness. overridebuttonBgColor= She was her own person, had her own ideas, and marched to her own drumwhich was fine, but at the same time, it was holding her back from reaching her highest potential. (Courtesy BYU Photo) There was BYU's head coach, seated across from a teenager who couldn't stop asking questions. Devotional Drawn to the Light Jennifer Rockwood March 15, 2016 Audio 0:00/34:50 Speed 36:47 Full Video Highlight Video Are you lighting the way for others? 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. My headlamp was the only source of light through the two and a half miles of switchback trails. He wants us to feel as if there are different paths. We have all been blessed with the Light of Christto know right from wrong and good from evil and to have a knowledge of our Heavenly Fathers and our Saviors love. During the entire run I was scanning for any sign of a light, a marker, or even a blinking reflector from someone. . But through the struggles, the fight, the dedication, and the choices, she was able to develop, mature, and grow. Our society is trending away from the spiritual and becoming more secular than ever. 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. This classic wasnt decided by a single goal; it would require penalty kicks instead. It was becoming a battle for her parents to keep her moving in the right direction. She graduated with a degree in Communications and began her career working in broadcasting, including working for CNN and KBYU-TV. I hope I can bring [players] in to where they have an amazing experience whether they play a lot or not, she says. Rockwood started the women's soccer program at BYU and recently picked up her 400th college soccer win as a coach. "We are thrilled to have Ellie coming to BYU," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. While it seems risky to turn down a great job offer or leave graduate school early, Brian Hill's journey led him to start his own company that helps give others a second chance. As a child in Chile, she watched soccer every day. What an amazing opportunity it is to stand before you today. Whether these are choices about who to recruit or about playing time, these decisions often cause issues with players, parents, and familieswho, needless to say, are not too happy with me. This poem has had a profound impact on my life, and I refer to it often. I remember a brilliant lady, Nancy Heuston, head of the Waterford School, who hired me to begin teaching at a middle school and coaching at a high school during my senior year at BYU. As President Monson stated, we want to be a light even to total strangers.. Reading or replaying the story in its Ive always had a work ethic, and I was always very competitive, she says. minutes. Prior to becoming head coach at BYU, Rockwood led BYU's highly successful club soccer team for seven years. All I can do is try and pass on what I have learned.. But if anyone is up to the challenge, it's Rockwood. Any doubts or questions of her being able to lead the team into a new era were gone. He wants so badly to help us reach our potential, and He will, if only we will let Him. Some may have been talking about Michael Jordans recent un-retirement and his upcoming return to the powerhouse Chicago Bulls. Our reach goes so far, whether in sports, music, dance, research, science, or education. Information in the story may be outdated So much of the time, we need that little spark to keep us going.. Recruiting takes a special toll on her because along with the pressure to nab students who will best fit the teams needs comes the knowledge that her decisions will leave many players and parentssome of whom shes known for a long timebitterly disappointed. What an amazing opportunity it is to stand before you today. We must choose our friends and those we associate with very carefully. overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= We know and have been taught that the light leads us through this journey. ", "BYU women's soccer: Coach Rockwood learns to loosen up", "Reaching 300, one win at a time for BYU's Rockwood", UNC womens soccer upsets BYU to advance to Final Four, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jennifer_Rockwood&oldid=1138996076, High school soccer coaches in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Women's association footballers not categorized by position, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 20:38. During her senior year she helped lead our team to a number fourteen ranking before we were knocked out of the tournament by the University of Portland, the defending national champion at that time. I saw the potential.. I am always drawn to the light in the beauty of Gods creations, in which I can find calmness, comfort, peace, and a deeper connection to my Heavenly Father and my Savior. There were all these older guys and me, and I was, like, twenty-three. But we havent been to a Final Four, and we havent won a national championship.. 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. Along with that comes the challenge of determining who will play and how much. Rockwood was offered a basketball scholarship at Ricks College, which she accepted in the fall of 1984, but her one true desire was soccer. . BYU was a team on the rise. BYU women's soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood, who has led the program since it joined Division I 25 years ago, addresses her team after a 4-0 exhibition victory against Colorado College on Aug.. The Cougars led by All-American Mikayla Colohan and All-WCC First Teamer Cameron Tucker had taken the 2021 NCAA Tournament by storm. And although Iwasnt even aware of it at the time, I was actually a light for others. . Jennifer Rockwood delivered a BYU devotional address titled Drawn to the Light on 15 March 2016. Evidently they had been following my light all the way in. Rockwood has always had a passion for athletics, but soccer wasnt necessarily her sport of choice growing up. While her accomplishments are remarkable, even more so is the path that positioned the 1989 Marriott School grad to achieve them. Christi Norris/BYU BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood talks to her team at the women's soccer preseason scrimmage for the 2022 season. "We are thrilled to have Ellie coming to BYU," said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. 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. Jennifer Rockwood net worth is$600,000 Jennifer Rockwood Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Jennifer Rockwood is the head coach for the BYU Cougars women's soccer team, a position she has held since 1989. They worked hard, too; they're so gifted, their formation and tactics from the coaching staff it all plays into it. As it says in the thirteenth article of faith, If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things (Articles of Faith 1:13). To me it emphasizes the importance of making a personal commitment to stay strong in our faith. An alumna of BYU, she's led the program to six Sweet 16 appearances and the Elite Eight three times, including back in 2019. Everybody knows more than you do about your job. After the lease was signed, someone remarked, Oh, we know that you are not going to proselyte, but what are you going to do about the light that is in their eyes? He was referring to the BYU students who would be studying in Israel. It is very hard to describe. View the profiles of people named Jennifer Hill. Legends Jennifer Rockwood People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. I am fifty-four years old, and in all my life I never was interested in watching any sports on TV. 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. It is our responsibility. However, it put me on an unfamiliar course. 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. A city that is set on anhill cannot be hid. During the run it was important to stay strong, positive, and confident, even though there were continual doubts. We want to walk in the light. In a world where so many will not It was one of the few runs that took place on a trail in the middle of nowhere at 2:00 a.m. Which voices can drown out the darkness and fill our minds and souls with the light? The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. He understands and he reminded me that we cantexpect to have chances to succeed at the game-changing visible thingsunless we are working to master the little things, and the bigthings are ultimately dependent on how hard we are willing to work.. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light, as it were, in the lives of those around uswhether they be our own family members, our coworkers, mere acquaintances, or total strangers. Brigham Young University. Inside was a beautiful hand-knitted blanket with the full BYU Cougar logo in the middle. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Never let fear hold you back. In the College Cup Final, the Cougars met another one seed in the Florida State Seminoles. 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. Conference tournament champion. PROVO The numbers speak for themselves, but as is often the case, they don't tell the whole story. 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