Jason Reynolds
June 2010
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How long have you been coaching with Elite Soccer?
Just about two years.
What other job do you currently hold?
I am a PsyD student at the Adler School of Professional Psychology.
What is your favorite part of coaching with Elite Soccer?
Elite provides kids with a healthy environment to grow as both players and people. Each coach on the Elite staff understands the importance of encouragement and positive coaching. By creating a positive environment, our players are able to gain confidence, learn from their mistakes, and (most importantly) learn to love the game. I also really appreciate the entire staff. Everyone is interested in helping each other out which makes it really easy to come to work.
What is your favorite part of coaching youth players?
The personalities! I really enjoy the opportunity to interact and learn from the motivated, intelligent kids in all of our programs. I can honestly say that I learn as much from my team as they take away from me. It’s been a gift to remember being their age and reapply that experience to improve my daily life.
Where were you born?
Elk Grove, IL.
Where did you grow up and what high school did you attend?
Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove High School.
Where did you go to college, and what was your degree in?
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Psychology.
Soccer playing experience-
Youth- Arlington Aces
High School- Arlington Aces, Buffalo Grove High School
College- University of Illinois Club Soccer
What position did you play?
Center Midfield
What other coaching experience do you have?
None prior to Elite Soccer.
What is your best soccer memory?
This is a deep track... It was 5th grade and I was on an Arlington Aces team playing in the Palatine Celtic Tournament. There was just about no time left on the clock and we happened to get a corner kick to finish out the game. Around this time, I made a pact with the man upstairs and thought about how sweet it would be to score a game winning goal. Luckily, the guy kicking the corner got the message and served a ball to the back post. Now, in slow motion, I saw the ball coming, closed my eyes, jumped, and made contact with ball on the top of my head (ouch). The last thing I saw was the ball sailing high, and, after hitting the ground, I was jolted back to reality by the crowd’s cheering and my teammates picking me up to celebrate. It was quite thrilling.
What is the best soccer game you've ever seen?
I was lucky enough to witness the 2004 State playoffs- Buffalo Grove taking out the #1 Seed Barrington in the first round. An absolutely amazing game.
If you couldn't play soccer, what sport would you like to be good at?
Golf would be a great way to make a living.
What is your favorite pro soccer team or player?
Lionel Messi of Barcelona is a beast. Brian McBride is a long time favorite.
What made you get into coaching?
After graduating from college, I was approached by Mike Steele and things just fell into place. It’s fun to stay around the game and teach others about something I spent so much time working on during my lifetime.
What is your favorite:
Movie? Waking Life, Dumb and Dumber.
Food? Anything spicy, the hotter the better. Steak and guacamole are my two individual favorites.
Book?Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hahn.
Restaurant? Javier’s.
Sports Team? Chicago Bears.
What is the most interesting place you have ever lived?
Champaign, Illinois. It’s the only other place I have lived. You find some interesting things in the middle of a cornfield.
What is the coolest place you have ever visited?
Nederland, Colorado.
What is one place you want to visit?
New Zealand
Do you have any pets?
Not currently.
What other jobs have you held?
Bartender, lifeguard, painter, many summers of “temping.”
If you could be any superhero, which superhero would you be and why?
Captain Planet. With powers like these, I don’t know anyone who can really match up: weather and climate manipulation, ability to generate and control earth, fire, wind and water, nearly invincible, telepathy, flight, super strength, super speed, super agility (thanks Wikipedia). He would be much appreciated in times like these. He also has a sweet green mullet.
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
I love music of all shapes and sizes. My favorite artists include Phish, Bill Frisell, John Scofield, and Radiohead.
If you could make up a team name and/or mascot, what would it be and why?
The Logan-chu’s. The name Loganchu was developed by Griffin Snead to describe his fellow teammate Logan Kilpatrick, who had recently scored an amazing goal at the last second during the memorial day tournament, and slightly resembled a mix between a Pokémon and his human self. For those of you who don’t know Logan, he is bursting with personality and could easily become a team-name phenomenon.
What was your favorite subject in school?
Science all the way.
Tell us about your family:
Brian and Mary Jo are the two responsible for bringing me into this world and they are both amazing. I have two brothers, Pat (22) and Josh (21), and two sisters, Hillary (19) and Gabrielle (17). My dad is one of ten kids and as a result I have an innumerable amount of uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Did anything funny and/or embarrassing ever happen to you while playing soccer?
Oh definitely but I have conveniently blocked out all of those memories... Just think own goals, missed PKs, handballs in the box, etc.
If you could be another Elite Soccer trainer for a day, who would you be and why?
Stein Garcia. He wanted to be me for a day so it only makes sense that I check out his world. Hopefully we could switch on a Sunday so I could test out his soccer skills on the field (as long as he isn’t “injured”).
What is your best Elite Soccer memory?
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