Jonathan Lester returned to his alma mater in 2017 to join the Spartans men's soccer staff as an assistant coach.
In his first season in the role, the former goalkeeper helped San José State boast one of the top defenses in the Western Athletic Conference. The club ended the 2017 campaign with seven shutouts in nine victories and finished the season by qualifying for the WAC title match. The 2018 season was Lester's second in Silicon Valley and the Spartans saw marked improvement towards the end the year, once again advancing to the WAC final.
In 2019, Lester coached true freshman David Sweeney to WAC All-Freshman Team honors. Sweeney was the only keeper named to the squad.
A San José State soccer legend, Lester made a name for himself as the club's goalkeeper from 2009-2012. Making 225 saves in three years, Lester ranks No. 4 on the program's all-time saves list. He also made a pair of postseason appearances, helping lead SJSU to the MPSF Tournament in 2009 and 2011.
Lester earned first-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors as a senior in 2011 after leading the conference with 105 saves. That marked also ranked No. 4 in all of Division I.
Prior to beginning his collegiate coaching career, he served as the head goalkeeper coach for Alpine Strikers Club, Bellarmine Prep and De Anza Force Academy.
In his first season in the role, the former goalkeeper helped San José State boast one of the top defenses in the Western Athletic Conference. The club ended the 2017 campaign with seven shutouts in nine victories and finished the season by qualifying for the WAC title match. The 2018 season was Lester's second in Silicon Valley and the Spartans saw marked improvement towards the end the year, once again advancing to the WAC final.
In 2019, Lester coached true freshman David Sweeney to WAC All-Freshman Team honors. Sweeney was the only keeper named to the squad.
A San José State soccer legend, Lester made a name for himself as the club's goalkeeper from 2009-2012. Making 225 saves in three years, Lester ranks No. 4 on the program's all-time saves list. He also made a pair of postseason appearances, helping lead SJSU to the MPSF Tournament in 2009 and 2011.
Lester earned first-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors as a senior in 2011 after leading the conference with 105 saves. That marked also ranked No. 4 in all of Division I.
Prior to beginning his collegiate coaching career, he served as the head goalkeeper coach for Alpine Strikers Club, Bellarmine Prep and De Anza Force Academy.