Alumna Named Head Varsity Soccer Coach At McAuley

CHICAGO—A Palos Heights woman is returning to her alma mater to head Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School soccer program. The high school named Jenna Johnson ‘05 as its new varsity soccer coach. Johnson has served as assistant varsity soccer coach for the Mighty Macs since 2016. Last season, she helped coach the team to a season finish of 16-7-2.

As a McAuley athlete, Johnson played varsity soccer in the position of forward throughout her high school career. She was named all-conference four years in a row, all-state her junior and senior year and Most Valuable Player for three years. During her senior year, when she served as team captain, she was named the Girls Catholic Athletics Conference (GCAC) Athlete of the Year. Johnson’s soccer career began during her grade school years, when she began playing club soccer with the Orland Park Soccer Club and later the Windy City Pride.

“Girls need strong role models and as an alumna of McAuley, I know firsthand the value of providing an environment where female athletes not only learn to collaborate well as a team, but challenge and encourage each other to perform at their very best level,” Johnson said in a news release. “I’ve enjoyed being back at McAuley and am driven by my love for the game and desire to continue to develop a high-caliber soccer program.”

“Jenna’s experience as a player and assistant coach for the Mighty Macs has been an asset to our program. I am excited for the enthusiasm she brings to the sport. She has proven herself to be an outstanding coach and leader for our players.”

Johnson attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison where she played soccer for the Badgers as a forward and center-mid. She graduated with a bachelor degree in communicative disorders. Johnson also has a master’s in clinical psychology with a specialization in applied behavior analysis from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Professionally, she is an adult behavior services coordinator at Little Friends Center for Autism in Naperville.