Coaching Brings Jaclyn Full Circle

Teacher. Coach. Sister. Wife. Daughter. Soon, Jaclyn Thompson will have a new title bestowed upon her: Mother.

When you speak with Mrs. Jaclyn Thompson, you’ll get a sense of her quiet self-confidence, a steady self-assurance that helps her navigate the opportunities, relationships, and inevitable challenges that life has to offer.

As an elementary school teacher at Twin Creeks and a youth soccer coach at San Ramon FC, she works to instill self-confidence in her students, both on the field and in the classroom.

Don’t forget, youth soccer players are students too.

They wear cleats and shin guards and run around in the fresh air while learning about the sport and themselves as they play. Learning through playing a team sport can be a foundational experience in a child’s life.

When you ask Jaclyn where she developed her confidence to teach and to coach, the answer may (or may not) surprise you: participation in youth sports.

There’s a fact that often pops up on social media feeds about women professionals who hold leadership positions: A significant majority of them played youth sports growing up.

And, the longer a girl plays youth sports, the more likely she is to hold a leadership position in her adult life. While you may doubt the algorithms that serve up endless “facts” into social media feeds, this one is backed by research studies.

To take a deeper dive into this fact, read the Women In Sports Foundation’s 2024 report titled, “Play to Lead”.

If deep dives aren't your thing, you can get your feet wet by looking at this infographic.

Playing Youth Sports in San Ramon

Jaclyn is a good example of this link between youth sports and female leadership. She currently works in San Ramon as a teacher in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and as a soccer coach. In both jobs, she’s a role model and a leader for youth in the community.

Long before her career path(s) took shape, she started playing soccer at the age of 5 in 1999. At San Ramon FC, she began in the club’s recreational program before joining the competitive program at the age of 8. While playing in the competitive program, Jaclyn competed with the same core group of players for the next 10 years, creating lasting memories, building lifelong friendships, and calling that team “her [obvious] favorite.”

When asked about her favorite moments playing youth soccer for San Ramon Soccer Club (now San Ramon FC), Jaclyn didn’t cite a game-winning goal or a monumental victory over a rival. Instead her answer revealed a more transformative childhood experience as she grew up.

Here’s what she said:

“I made some of my best and closest friends through playing soccer at San Ramon. I remember the carbo loads, team bonding at tournaments, team sleepovers, team meals, and lifelong friendships I made. I remember having some amazing and influential coaches that helped me grow to be the best player I could. I remember winning and losing big moments and learning from them.”

She also reflected on how youth soccer helped her grow into the adult she is today.

“Playing youth soccer taught me a lot of valuable traits that I have carried with me. It taught me the importance of being on time, teamwork, communication, and accountability. I pride myself on being someone that is easy to work and communicate with, as well as someone that people can depend on. I learned a lot about those things from playing soccer.”

Jaclyn found her niche on the soccer field anchoring the defense, playing center back or outside back. As a right footed player, she said “I could get by with my left.” Indeed she could. Using both feet well is required for high level soccer players. The captain’s arm band found its way to her in high school, a visible sign of her emerging leadership skills.

Playing multiple sports also proved to be an enriching experience. Jaclyn played club lacrosse and then Grizzlies lacrosse for California High School. Lacrosse helped her develop her physical skills. It provided opportunities to learn teamwork, communication skills, and quick decision making; all valuable intangible skills that youth athletes can leverage in different sports and in their careers later in life.

To Southern Oregon And Back Again

As her skills and passion for soccer blossomed, she credits Coach Brian Rouillard at San Ramon FC (formerly SRSC) with helping her get scouted and recruited for collegiate soccer. “He cared about us not just as players but as individuals and was overall a supportive and dedicated coach for all of us,” she said.

When Jaclyn graduated high school in 2012, she was offered a roster spot at Southern Oregon University and played collegiate soccer for the Red Raiders in Ashland, Oregon.

Family support is often unheralded, yet vital, for boys and girls playing youth sports. Her family was always very supportive of her athletic pursuits.

“My mom, Dawn, was always at every single one of my games, no matter what the weather. She came to Virginia for our Nationals tournament and would frequently fly or drive to Oregon for my college games,“ Jaclyn said. As Moms and Dads will tell you, positive support and encouragement from parents is a key ingredient for lasting success.

After graduating college with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education (with a minor in Early Childhood Development) and a masters degree in the Art of Teaching, Jaclyn returned home to the Tri Valley, ready to start her career in education.

Coaching Brings Jaclyn Full Circle

After settling into her job as a teacher at Twin Creeks Elementary, Jaclyn was hired to coach at San Ramon FC. She now leads the U7-U8 girls Academy and is the head coach of the 2018 Girls Pre-ECNL-RL team. From a young girl playing sports on the fields of Neil Armstrong, Central Park, and Tiffany Roberts Field, she now coaches the next generation of young girls eager to learn about soccer.

Like Jaclyn, the San Ramon FC soccer club understands the importance of youth soccer for developing character and intangible skills, like confidence and leadership.

Founded in 1973, the club celebrated its 50 year anniversary in 2023. Its guiding mission statement is to develop players, character, and community through soccer. San Ramon FC promotes 11 Pillars of Character that help youth develop into successful student athletes and adults. The club’s annual Scholar Athlete program recognizes student athletes for achieving excellence in academics while playing soccer.

San Ramon FC earned US Soccer’s “Players First” designation, the equivalent of the good housekeeping seal of approval, for its commitment to provide a holistic club soccer experience for players and parents.

Confidence is among the club’s 11 pillars of character, and one that Jaclyn instills into her coaching philosophy:

“The pillar I try to incorporate in my coaching most often is confidence. Coaching such a young age group gives me the opportunity to show these young players what they are capable of. I try to teach them that they are strong, hardworking, and creative players. I think developing their confidence in themselves at a young age is important!”

Jaclyn loves watching youth players grow and succeed. She has a special place in her heart for the first group of players she coached, the 2014s (the year refers to the players' birth year): “It has been so fun to watch the 2014 girls grow and succeed because they were the first group I coached when I was hired at SRFC in 2021 when they were U8.”

Jaclyn is 8 months pregnant and plans to coach through the end of March (unless her baby has other plans). As she looks forward to welcoming her son into the world this spring, she was asked, if he would play soccer for San Ramon FC one day? Her cheerful reply was, “Possibly!”

Without a crystal ball, there’s no way to know what the future holds for her son. It’s a safe assumption that he’ll receive the love, support, and encouragement from his family to be a success in whatever he chooses to do.

And, maybe, just maybe, he’ll learn about teamwork and accountability, and develop self-confidence like his Mom did, by playing soccer.

Only time will tell.

About San Ramon FC's Youth Programs

San Ramon FC’s fall 2026 U5-U19 recreational programs will open for registration on April 1st. Beginners are welcome and financial aid may be available to those who qualify. In May, the club’s U7-U19 competitive programs will hold free tryouts for its 2026-27 season.

Visit SanRamonFC.com for more information about the club.

Q&A with Jaclyn Thompson

What’s one piece of soccer advice that you would give to your younger self?

I would tell myself to always give 100%, leave it all on the field. When it’s over, you’ll miss it terribly, make sure you’ve given it everything you’ve got!

What do you like about coaching at San Ramon FC?

I love the community and passion from both parents and players. It is so much fun to coach here. Players work hard and are committed to learning the game and getting better.

Which athlete(s) did you admire as a youth player?

I loved watching the US Women’s National team growing up. Meeting Brandi Chastain at Stanford soccer camp was a major highlight growing up. Kristine Lilly was one of my favorites. Abby Wambach was one of my favorites too.

What benefits does the sport of futsal offer to youth players?

I think futsal offers a great opportunity for players to advance their foot skills in a high speed environment. It really forces you to make quick decisions and know what you’re going to do before you get the ball. In futsal, every player is involved the entire game, there’s never a dull moment. I think it sharpens players’ mental game as well as physical.

Futsal was just starting to become a thing when I was young but I remember loving it so much! I only played a season or two. (Fun fact: San Ramon FC now has an affiliate competitive youth futsal club, 925Futsal!)

What makes the 50 year anniversary an important milestone for San Ramon FC?

I think it’s important because of how much the club has evolved over the years. Regardless of who the staff are, where kids are playing, or what the club name is, this club has always prioritized the development of kids in soccer. I’m proud to be part of a club that is so dedicated to teaching kids how to play and love the game.

The city of San Ramon has grown a lot over the years. Do you have a favorite “new addition” to the city? Is there a place or business from years past that you wish would still exist today?

My favorite new addition is the City Center at Bishop Ranch. That was not around when I was a kid and I think it’s a fun place to bring people together! I’m a little sad that the Crow Canyon Cinema is gone. I went to so many movies there as a kid and have many fond memories there!