SAN JOSE, Calif.—Former professional women's soccer player Meleana "Mana" Shim has joined the San José State University women's soccer program as an assistant coach, as announced by Spartan head coach Tina Estrada.
"I am so happy to welcome Mana to our staff here at San José State. Her playing experience at the professional level will be a huge asset to our player development. She is an incredible role model and advocate for female soccer players, and I look forward to her immediate impact on the holistic development of all our student athletes. We are lucky to have her," said Estrada.
Shim signed with the Portland Thorns in 2013 after her four-year career at Santa Clara University and scored her first professional goal just five weeks later against Seattle Reign FC. She was part of two National Women's Soccer League championship teams in Portland. Shim also played with the Houston Dash and represented the United States on the U23 team from 2012-14.
A three-year starter for the Broncos, she was an All-West Coast Conference second team honoree her junior and senior seasons after receiving honorable mention recognition her sophomore year. Shim was a two-time All-West region selection, second team in 2011 and third team in 2012.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to coach at San José State. I admire the welcoming, supportive culture and high standards that Tina and the rest of the staff have built here, and I'm looking forward to helping the program grow and become even more competitive. I've always wanted to coach at the collegiate level, and I can't wait to get started with the team," said Shim.
Shim just completed her third year as a law student at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and was among 10 law students across the country named 2022 Law Students of the Year in National Jurist preLaw magazine. The honor is an annual feature in the magazine which recognizes talented, exceptional law students with a dedication to their community.
Shim graduated from Santa Clara with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2013, and in May of 2022 with a Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai'i.
What they are saying about Coach Shim
Margueritte Aozasa, UCLA Women's Soccer Head Coach
"Mana is one of my dearest friends, and it feels only right she is back in the game as a coach. She is the perfect balance of passion and compassion. She will impress right away with her knowledge of the game, ability to connect with players, and her enthusiasm for both. I cannot wait to see the impact she will have on SJSU's program and wish the Spartans all the best from Westwood."
Cindy Parlow Cone, President of United States Soccer Federation
"I absolutely loved coaching Mana. On the field, she wasn't one of the fastest players so to be successful she had to read the game quicker, be more technical, and move into spaces faster. Off the field, she is great at connecting with people and building trust as she is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. It is this combination of who she is as a person and her experiences in the game that make me believe that she will be a very effective and successful coach. Win or lose, San José State is lucky to have her!"
Alex Morgan, United States Women's National Team player
"Mana was a teammate of mine for three years and has been a friend for over 10 years. She contributed to the team in different ways on and off the field. Not only was she a natural leader, but she helped with the locker room culture, was thoughtful, invested, and supportive. One of her strengths on the field was her visual awareness. I see all these being attributes that translate to coaching."
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