WHAT ATHLETES SAY ABOUT COACH JAKE:
"Without coach Jake, I never would have continued soccer or even started to play basketball. Coach Jake made me realize that I really love soccer and basketball. He has been my coach for a very long time and I am so thankful for him. He makes practices fun but pushes me to do better no matter what, and that has helped me get to the next levels. Coach Jake is truly the best! Thanks Coach for all you have done for me on and off the field and court!"
"Coach Jake is nice, full of energy and always coaches in a positive way. He's really good at pre-game pep talks and he tries to fit fun games into practices. If you play for Coach Jake, you're going to learn a lot and have fun!"
“Coach Jake was always very caring and he always cared about you. He would ask how your day was and would actually care and want to hear about it. He wanted to make sure you always had fun at practice but also that you were working hard. But one of the most important things was to listen! Coach Jake will make soccer and sports in general WAY more fun than any other coach! Don’t ever doubt Coach Jake because I promise he will come through and show how much he cares about you and the sport and how much you love the sport! I always looked forward to coming to practice because all the drills and games he would make sure was fun but all the drills had some kind of skill that you will eventually realize how the drills play into factor when you play in games or even just a scrimmage at practice!”
"Coach Jake always has a positive attitude and is always supportive. He has a fun personality and loves coaching. He can tell when you are struggling with something, and he will not stop until you understand it. Coach Jake was one of the best coaches I have ever had."
"My favorite thing that I remember about Coach Jake is how enthusiastic he is! He is always so positive and never has a frown on his face. He is always full of energy when working with us, he makes us feel welcomed to each practice and more importantly makes us want to play. A couple things I would tell other people about playing for Coach Jake is how much he helped me grow as a person and a player. He made me want to show up to practice ready to do my best. He makes every player walk on and off the court or soccer field feeling confident. Some of my favorite moments playing on a team coached by Coach Jake were meeting so many new people. Some of those people are now my best friends and we can all reconnect. It was so fun being able to start playing sports we all loved when we were 7-8, going off to middle school a couple years later, making our school team and then all playing against each other. It's so fun having a little competition between people that you used to play with!!"
"He was always very encouraging and always gave the best advice for how I could grow in my basketball career. And he always made every player feel valued and important."
WHAT PARENTS SAY ABOUT COACH JAKE:
"Can’t say enough good things about this man. He coached my daughter in basketball. Once she spent a season with Jake she didn’t want to play any other sport. Jake is a inspirational and motivating person that is able to prepare your child for what the future holds. A true coach that performs and teaches at another level. He uses old-school technical ways to show this new generation it’s the way to go. I would highly recommend this man to work with your child if they need to be inspired and learn the game of basketball."
"My daughter, now 13, began playing for Coach Jake during her early elementary school years. Since then, she has played multiple seasons for him on his soccer and basketball teams. Jake has a genuine passion for kids and sport, and his coaching style is like no other we have experienced in the past ten years. He has taught my daughter from an early age that good sportsmanship is the foundation of healthy competition. He consistently conducts himself in a professional manner on the court/field with both referees and opposing coaches which makes Jake a great role model for his players. His knowledge of the game and ability to engage with kids of all ages is remarkable. He possesses the patience needed to teach the fundamentals at a pace that makes it fun, yet promotes individual growth. His positive attitude and his enthusiasm, day in and day out, is what really makes him unique. He communicates well with parents, is extremely organized and always approachable. My daughter has played for numerous coaches over the years and has always said that Coach Jake is her favorite. We certainly hope to see her play for him again in the future. On a personal and professional level, I just can't say enough good things about him."
"Jake is a remarkable coach and motivator. He changed my daughter's life. She was not feeling it in any sport, until 6th grade year where Jake was her head coach of the basketball team. He taught my daughter many things. #1. to be on time. #2. practice hard. 3. confidence 4. teamwork 5. strategy. 6. What it takes to win. I would highly recommend this man to train your child. He will teach them the basics and teach them the little things in life that become the foundation of who they are. Jake is a man with integrity, passion, and motivation."
"My daughter has been involved with coach Jake since little on and he was definitely a springboard to their success in moving on the Club Soccer or middle school basketball in which our daughters Kennedy Eagles won their championship in year 1. He is driven, passionate, committed to improvement and learning for all the children on his teams. His intensity level is commendable, and he really spends time building the kids up to become strong individuals that can withstand both the physical aspect of the sport but mental too. We think this carries on with the kids outside of the sport as well. Would highly recommend Jake if you’re looking for a safe, solid, fun atmosphere for your child who will learn a ton along the way!"
"Coach Jake has made such an impact on our daughter’s love for soccer. His constant enthusiasm is contagious and made it so fun for her from the start. Additionally, I had the pleasure of briefly assisting Coach Jake in basketball and he was able to encourage and challenge all skill levels. One moment that sticks out as a takeaway for me was when one of the players made a mistake and others started to laugh, Jake stopped that immediately and reminded everyone that it’s ok to mess up and that these girls are there to support one another. Jake made it a safe place to mess up, say “my bad” and move on. Additionally, he took the time to reinforce the team angle and that everyone there was rooting for and encouraging one another. It was wonderful to see that mistakes are acceptable and that they would be there to cheer one another on. This is especially valuable for some of these girls that tend to aim for high achievement and already put enough pressure on themselves. I have seen the results of that coaching during both basketball and soccer games and it makes me proud that these girls are such good sports on the court and field."
"I have had the pleasure of being the assistant coach to Jake in basketball for the last few years. Jake has also coached my daughter in soccer for seven years. If you are interested in having your child develop a true love and appreciation for the game of soccer or basketball as well as improve their skill set and mindset for not only sports, but for everyday life, then Jake is the one you want coaching your child. Jakes approach to coaching is based on his solid core values of: 1) advancing these young men and women to to the next level of skill by working hard, being a great teammate, being respectful, and enhancing their love and appreciation for the sport; 2) instilling and maintaining a continuous hard work ethic so that these young athletes want to get better at their sport; 3) communicating with these young athletes at their level and sharing real life experiences with them as it relates to sports; and 4) being passionate and honest about the advancement of the young minds and future direction of the athletes. It has truly been an honor and privilege to be Jake's assistant coach. He can move mountains with these athletes all the while maintaining their respect, improving their skills, and having fun putting the work in. Jake's communication with parents, athletes, and sports organizations is second to none. I highly recommend Jake to any family that is looking to add a very positive influence and role model to their child's sports career."
"I coached soccer with Jake and enjoyed his enthusiasm, knowledge of the game and creative ideas for practice. He most recently coached my daughter in basketball and 100% prepared her for middle school ball. Jake has a firm but fun approach to coaching. His communication with parents is consistent, positive, and detailed. And most of all, he truly cares about every player's success!"
"It’s clear from your first interaction with Jake that he has a passion and enthusiasm for teaching and seeing kids develop not only their skills but also confidence. He really wants to build the mental along with the physical. His approach works whether he’s dealing with any already advanced player or someone that is just starting to be exposed to the sport."
"There are SO MANY things that I appreciate about your coaching style, Jake. First and foremost, your expertise on the sport at hand. You most certainly know the game - whether that's basketball or soccer, you have a great understanding of the rules, techniques, plays and skill sets needed for these kiddos to be successful. Your coaching style is very age-appropriate. I've watched you coach kids as young as 6 or 7 (or younger?!?!) and now of course teens! Drills and expectations were ALWAYS positive and always age appropriate. You never underestimate the abilities of young people but you temper your expectations accordingly. You have managed to strike the very fine balance of expecting enough but not too much. Of pushing kids to meet or exceed their ability without overworking them or pushing them too hard. I LOVE your perpetual positivity. I've never once heard you raise your voice in an unkind or inappropriate way. You've ALWAYS kept your coaching messages clean and positive. You dish out the right amount of praise alongside constructive criticism. I love the fact that you're ALWAYS coaching! Whether you're celebrating a great play or helping an athlete recognize what they could have done better. Hands down, without doubt, you're the best coach our daughter has ever worked with and we are eternally grateful for your time, energy and expertise. I know she wouldn't be where she is today without your literal years of guidance."
"With Jake's history of spending more social time around our daughter, we knew she would be more trusting of the practice / game environment under his care, particularly as her skills were still developing. Her confidence grew over the basketball seasons on Jake's team, converting her from someone who was apprehensive to tryout to someone who made the single A team and demonstrated a new passion for the sport (and being a part of a team). She's even a great spectator now of college games on TV. Jake's blend of positive encouragement + quick wit was the right fit for her - where she learned that under Coach Jake, not trying was not an option, and that growth often comes from fast fails that yield lifelong lessons, particularly if she remains resilient."
"Coach Jake has been a tremendous influence on my daughter’s basketball development. I can’t overemphasize that enough! His extensive knowledge of the game, energy, enthusiasm, approachability, etc. is far superior to others coaches I have seen over the years. He is fair to all girls and embraces the team aspects of sports. Confidence is what young athletes need, and Coach Jake has pushed my daughter further to gain confidence and ultimately secure a spot on the middle school basketball team. He understands young athletes and has a great method on motivating them to do their best (regardless of win or loss). Highly recommend Coach Jake!"
"Coach Jake taught my daughter the basics of how to play basketball. He taught her skills that would help her be a better player and build up her confidence. She learned to be a team player and how to take direction well from Coach Jake. We are always grateful for what a huge impact he had on her basketball career!!"