Meet the Coaches

Hey there! I am so glad you are here. I’m Abbey, the new Head Coach for the Tumwater High School Girls’ Soccer Program. The THS community has been a big part of my story and I am so thrilled to be back serving this special community and working with the incredible people that are in it!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in motion — always moving, always chasing the next challenge. Soccer has been one of the biggest constants in my life. On the field is where I’ve always found joy, freedom, and purpose. It’s where I learned how to push through challenges, lift others up, and discover who I truly am when things get tough. Growing up, the game taught me discipline, resilience, and the power of community — lessons that shaped not just who I was on the field, but who I became off of it. Soccer not only shaped my life then, but it continues to inspire me every day as a coach, a leader, and a lifelong student of the game. This game impacted me in profound ways, but more than that, it’s given me the tools to help others discover their own strength — on and off the field.

My Story

I’ve always been a competitor — even before I knew what competition really was. My parents love to remind me of their sheer panic when they realized what they were in for the moment I let the world knew I had arrived. I was delivered in under 30 minutes and came out with a full head of hair. At just six months old I decided to skip the crawling stage and went straight to walking (well, more like running), and I haven’t slowed down since.

I was a hyperactive, determined kid with endless energy and a stubborn streak that my parents weren’t quite prepared for. They quickly realized that once I set my mind to something, there was no convincing me otherwise. I was ready to rock and roll, and there was no stopping me.

When my older sister started playing sports, my parents saw an opportunity for some reprieve from my endless terrorizing and signed me up to play alongside her. I was younger than everyone else on the team, but that didn’t faze me — I was excited to be out there and ready for the challenge. I ended up playing with older teams for a good majority of my formative soccer years, advancing from recreation soccer to club teams, holding my own and learning from older players. In fact, I’d do anything to get extra reps, even if it meant bribing my younger sister to be my personal goalkeeper. I paid her a penny per shot (a terrible deal for her, but a steal for me), and we’d spend hours in the backyard perfecting my skills.

During those early years, I also practiced with boys’ teams, which pushed me even further outside my comfort zone and helped me develop a tougher, more aggressive playing style. By the time I decided to play at my own age level, I was miles ahead of many of my peers in terms of skill, confidence, and game IQ.

From there, I quickly rose through the ranks on every team I joined, building an impressive soccer resume along the way that brought me to some pretty cool places and gave me the opportunity to participate in once in a life time experiences. But more than any accolades or achievements, what stood out was my love for the game and my relentless determination to keep improving. I obsessed over the details- from the way I laced up my shoes, to how I would practice, to the end results of a game- everything was an opportunity to further improve and learn. Soccer taught me to be relentless in the pursuit of my goals. It taught me that setbacks and losses are part of the climb, but the real measure of character is how you respond to adversity.

Soccer wasn’t just something I did — it was such a big part of who I was. And that love for the game, that drive to compete, and that desire to push myself to new heights; is the same energy I bring to coaching today.

Who I Am Today

Today, I bring that same work ethic and passion that I had as player to coaching. I believe that success is built on a foundation of discipline, preparation, and accountability. I coach with the understanding that every player’s journey is unique, but every player is capable of achieving greatness if they’re willing to commit to the process. When passion and persistence come together- players become unstoppable.

I want my players to know and believe to their core that they are capable of incredible things; their mind is the only thing that can stop them. They, themselves, can either be their greatest asset or their greatest hinderance- it is their choice and the delineation between those two things is simple mindset shifts from “I have to do this” to “I get to do this” and from “I’ll try” to “I will”.

I strive to build more than just skilled players — I want to develop resilient leaders and strong, confident young women. My coaching philosophy centers around creating an environment that pushes players to grow not just as athletes, but as people. I want players to know that their worth goes beyond the scoreboard, but that they’re capable of greatness when they show up, work hard, and believe in themselves.

As a coach, I’m incredibly competitive — I want to win, and I want to build a program that consistently competes at the highest levels. But winning is a byproduct of doing things the right way. My focus is on the process: the daily habits, the discipline, the mental toughness, and the relentless pursuit of growth.

What Inspires Me

I’m inspired by players who are willing to do the work at all stages of the climb. Whether that is off-season workouts, pre-season scrimmages, or play off games- I am inspired by players who relentlessly climb the mountain. Those who don’t shy away from challenges, who show up ready to work hard every day, and who understand that success is earned step by step. I am inspired by players who are entitled to nothing and work for everything, who lean into challenges and use each set back as opportunity for growth. I am inspired by players who aim to not only make themselves better, but encourage those around them to challenge themselves and become better in all aspects of their life.

I’m inspired by teams that operate as a family — where every player has each other’s backs, where the highs are celebrated together, and where the lows only make us stronger. I am inspired by teams who hold each other accountable to the goals we’ve set out to achieve together. I am inspired by teams who love each other and are the first to congratulate and celebrate each other- a great pass, an awesome goal, a league accolade- I will foster an environment where we are the first and loudest to celebrate our team. And most of all, I’m inspired by the opportunity to help young female athletes realize their potential. 

Coaching isn’t just about building great soccer players; it’s about building great humans. The word coach is synonymous with teacher, educator, elder-and it is my duty as the occupant of those titles to help prepare my players for the world that they will have to navigate. If I can help a player leave this program feeling. more confident, more resilient, and more prepared for life beyond the field, then I’ve done my job.

Why I Coach

I coach because I believe in the power of this game to shape lives. I coach because I’ve seen how soccer can bring people together, create lifelong friendships, and teach lessons that last far beyond the field. I coach because I believe Tumwater Soccer is capable of greatness beyond the Evergreen Conference. I believe this program has what it takes to reach the summit and achieve sustained success at the playoff and state levels. But it won’t happen by accident — it will take commitment, hard work, and a shared belief in our vision. I’m here to help lead that climb and help this program reach the summit.

What You Can Expect From Me

As a coach, I bring:

• Passion: I love this game, and I bring that energy to every practice, game, and interaction.

• Discipline: I believe in doing things the right way, holding ourselves accountable, and striving for continual improvement.

• Empathy: I understand that every player is different, and I will meet you where you’re at to help you grow. I also know, first hand, the many issues young women face in their formative and high school years. It can be a tough and yet still very pivotal time in a young woman’s life. It is important for young women to see strong women in leadership roles; I am here to empower and encourage as I had many positive mentors and encouraging figures in my life that have helped me along the way.

• Leadership: I will always lead by example — with integrity, respect, and a relentless work ethic.

• Vision: I believe in building a legacy of sustained success, one step at a time.

Soccer has given me so much throughout my life, and now it’s my turn to give back to the community and program that has been apart of my story. I’m here to help build a program that Tumwater can be proud of — one that’s prepared for the summit, ready to make history, and eager to keep climbing together.

Go Birds!

Abbey