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Creating Coaches: Neil Jones’ Coaching Journey — From New Zealand to Chicago

Neil Jones stopped playing professional soccer to start coaching soccer. He moved to Chicago 10 days after his wedding to pursue a new coaching job. He became the head coach of Loyola’s men’s soccer program at the age of 30, which is fairly young for a head coach.

While it wasn’t Neil Jones’ original dream to become a coach, he said he had an inkling it was going to happen for him.

“As a coach you’re a teacher,” Jones, 37, said. “Not just of soccer, but of life. My mom is a teacher. She’s been a teacher her whole life.