SAN JOSE, Calif. - Former San José State star goalkeeper Paige Simoneau has been named as an assistant coach for the women's soccer team, announced by head coach Tina Estrada on Monday.
The Corona, Calif. native was twice named the Mountain West Championship Tournament MVP during her time at SJSU and was also a Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week four times during her career. She was named to the All-Mountain West First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region Team in 2018. Across her four-year career from 2015 to 2018, she registered a school-record 21 shutouts and a school-record 0.92 goals-against average. In 2018, she broke SJSU single-season records with 11 shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.81.
"I am beyond excited to welcome Paige back to our SJSU family," said Estrada. "She was an incredible goalkeeper, leader, and person that was instrumental to our program's past success. I look forward to her making an immediate impact with our goalkeepers and team. Welcome home Paige!"
After graduating from SJSU in 2018 with a bachelor of arts in child development, Simoneau worked as a goalkeeper coach at Santiago High School from Aug. 2019 until Sept. 2020 before transitioning to working at Medi-Cal for two years.
"I am super thrilled to be coming back to SJSU," said Simoneau. "It feels surreal to be a part of the program again and to be working alongside Tina and the rest of the staff".
Simoneau will work primarily with the team's goalkeepers.
What they are saying about Coach Simoneau
Jeff Tackett, Director of SCSG
"Not only are the school and staff lucky to have Paige on board, but the student-athletes will also be blessed. There are not many people that have a competitive nature and compassion for a human being, as Paige does. Paige is exactly the balance that a college athlete needs. The ability to teach them, groom them, and advocate for them."
Adrianne Fass, SJSU Assistant Coach (2017-2022)
"It is always exciting to hear that a SJSU alum is returning home. Paige was an integral part of the SJSU Women's Soccer Team during her time as a player. She had four successful years and helped win two Mountain West Tournament Championships and one regular season championship. She earned the Mountain West Championship Tournament MVP twice. She was a captain and a leader. I look forward to seeing her experience as a coach and former player be brought to SJSU as a coach."
Mike Fleming, Head Coach at Santiago High School
"Excellent hire from the SJSU Women's Soccer program picking up Paige Simoneau as an assistant coach working with the goalkeepers. Paige represents everything you would want in a coach. As a former player and alumna of SJSU, Paige understands the demands and expectations of a Division 1 student athlete and brings an intangible passion and knowledge of the game forged in competition, study, sacrifice, execution and experience both on and off the field. Her on the field accolades bring respect to her name through her legacy as one of the best goalkeepers in SJSU soccer history while her off the field character as a person and great human being represents the perfect blend for a coach looking to now impart her wisdom to the next future generation of stellar student athletes to don the blue, gold, and gray as an SJSU Spartan."
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