Meet Your Coach: Amanda Malkiewicz
Meet Your Coach: Amanda Malkiewicz FC DALLAS TRI·SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017
Coach Amanda is the first assistant coach for the East Tennessee State University Women’s Soccer team and a former college head coach at NCAA D2 Concord University. Originally from Lacey Township in New Jersey, near the shore, she came south to play her college soccer at NCAA Division 1 East Carolina University. Her career highlights as a player include a Conference USA regular season championship, national travel to opponents like University of Alabama-Brimingham and Rice University. Malkiewicz finished her career among the all-time statistical leaders in assists (2nd) and goals (3rd) for the Pirates, and was named a team captain during her junior year. Following her career as a player she joined the staff at Concord and was promoted to head coach for the Cougars. When the opening at ETSU became available, she made the jump to D1 coaching and was invited to coach for FC Dallas TRI by fellow ESTU assistant and FC Dallas TRI coach Joanne Spalding. Coach Amanda works with the 2005/2006 Girls and 2003/2004 Girls.
Coach Amanda explains the game to players on the sideline.
How Did You Become a Coach? After graduating in 2012, with no women’s pro league, continuing to play wasn’t an option so coaching seemed
natural. While doing my student teaching I began helping at JH Rose high school with their high school team. My supervising teacher for invited me to help coach. I realized I wanted to teach players rather than be in a classroom so I began to look for a GA position. Do Your Have Any Licenses or Coaching Credentials? I have a B.S. in secondary education for math, and a Masters degree in Health Promotion. I hold a USSF-B license and a level II NSCAA goalkeeping diploma.
My favorite things are the “light bulb moments” when you teach them to do something correctly and they realize how do to it. It’s outstanding for me. There is nothing better than the camaraderie and fun you have with people who share the same passion as you. What Goals Do You Have for Your Team? My goals are different for a club team than a college team. For the club route my goal is to teach the game and can they have fun and enjoy themselves while they are learning? After every training session I ask, what did you learn and did you have fun?
Coach Amanda addresses the girls in a pre-game huddle.
What Benefits Do You Think Playing Sports Has for Young People? Sports transfers to life into every aspect, working as a team, accountability, loyalty, hard work. As a college coach you’re
preparing kids to be in the real world, if they can learn to be good athletes, they can learn to be good people. If you can get them started as a younger age, they are going to be amazing members of society when they are 18 years old. What Is Your Favorite Soccer Memory? As a player it would probably have to be from college. My whole family got to see me score on my college senior night against Marshall [University]. Having them see me celebrate that tat my last home game ever was very special.
Coach Amanda with the U11 Premier Girls last fall.
Why Do You Enjoy Being a Coach? My favorite things are the “light bulb moments” when you teach them to do something correctly and they realize how do to it. It’s outstanding for me. There is nothing better than the camaraderie and fun you have with people who share the same passion as you. Why FC Dallas TRI? I think its a great way for all of these kids to come together. My kids can be role models for the younger kids, the family atmosphere, and bringing together three cities to have an elite club. I am interested to see where it goes. The future is bright.
Coach Amanda is the first assistant coach for the East Tennessee State University Women’s Soccer team and a former college head coach at NCAA D2 Concord University. Originally from Lacey Township in New Jersey, near the shore, she came south to play her college soccer at NCAA Division 1 East Carolina University. Her career highlights as a player include a Conference USA regular season championship, national travel to opponents like University of Alabama-Brimingham and Rice University. Malkiewicz finished her career among the all-time statistical leaders in assists (2nd) and goals (3rd) for the Pirates, and was named a team captain during her junior year. Following her career as a player she joined the staff at Concord and was promoted to head coach for the Cougars. When the opening at ETSU became available, she made the jump to D1 coaching and was invited to coach for FC Dallas TRI by fellow ESTU assistant and FC Dallas TRI coach Joanne Spalding. Coach Amanda works with the 2005/2006 Girls and 2003/2004 Girls.
Coach Amanda explains the game to players on the sideline.
How Did You Become a Coach? After graduating in 2012, with no women’s pro league, continuing to play wasn’t an option so coaching seemed
natural. While doing my student teaching I began helping at JH Rose high school with their high school team. My supervising teacher for invited me to help coach. I realized I wanted to teach players rather than be in a classroom so I began to look for a GA position. Do Your Have Any Licenses or Coaching Credentials? I have a B.S. in secondary education for math, and a Masters degree in Health Promotion. I hold a USSF-B license and a level II NSCAA goalkeeping diploma.
My favorite things are the “light bulb moments” when you teach them to do something correctly and they realize how do to it. It’s outstanding for me. There is nothing better than the camaraderie and fun you have with people who share the same passion as you. What Goals Do You Have for Your Team? My goals are different for a club team than a college team. For the club route my goal is to teach the game and can they have fun and enjoy themselves while they are learning? After every training session I ask, what did you learn and did you have fun?
Coach Amanda addresses the girls in a pre-game huddle.
What Benefits Do You Think Playing Sports Has for Young People? Sports transfers to life into every aspect, working as a team, accountability, loyalty, hard work. As a college coach you’re
preparing kids to be in the real world, if they can learn to be good athletes, they can learn to be good people. If you can get them started as a younger age, they are going to be amazing members of society when they are 18 years old. What Is Your Favorite Soccer Memory? As a player it would probably have to be from college. My whole family got to see me score on my college senior night against Marshall [University]. Having them see me celebrate that tat my last home game ever was very special.
Coach Amanda with the U11 Premier Girls last fall.
Why Do You Enjoy Being a Coach? My favorite things are the “light bulb moments” when you teach them to do something correctly and they realize how do to it. It’s outstanding for me. There is nothing better than the camaraderie and fun you have with people who share the same passion as you. Why FC Dallas TRI? I think its a great way for all of these kids to come together. My kids can be role models for the younger kids, the family atmosphere, and bringing together three cities to have an elite club. I am interested to see where it goes. The future is bright.
