WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Jennifer Maben, the assistant women's soccer coach at Whitman College, has no difficulty relating to the experiences her players encounter, either on the field or off. Maben, who graduated from Whitman in 1993 with a degree in psychology, was a four-year starter on the soccer team during her own undergraduate days.
"Being involved in soccer in any way possible is something I have always enjoyed," Maben said. "There is not a lot of opportunity for me to continue playing in Walla Walla, so coaching keeps me involved in the sport. I hope to coach and play throughout my life."
Maben, a program coordinator in the Development Office at Whitman, began her soccer coaching career at Walla Walla High School. She served as assistant coach for the girls team in 1995 and 1996, working with head coach Pete Parcells.
Parcells, an associate professor of economics at Whitman, also is active in coaching youth sports in the local area.
"I really enjoyed coaching the girls at the high school," Maben said. "I have always wanted to coach at the college level, however. I know I can improve my skills, both as a coach and player, by working at this level."
Before coming to Whitman, Maben was a three-year varsity starter on the soccer team at Palo Alto (Calif.) High School. As a senior, she was named conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as her team's most valuable player. She also served as team captain her final two seasons.
As a high school junior, Maben traveled with her Palo Alto club team to Russia and Scandinavia to play in three tournaments.
While at Whitman, in addition to playing on defense and in the midfield for the soccer team, Maben was a four-year starting goalkeeper on the women's lacrosse team. She competed her last two seasons as a player-coach and later added three more years of coaching following her graduation.
Maben has also stayed active in lacrosse in her post-graduate life. In recent years, she has played for a club team based in Seattle, Wash., and she has twice competed in the National Women's Lacrosse Tournament, playing goalkeeper for a Northwest All-Star Select Team.