This summer, Rush Wisconsin is excited to welcome Jess Lorenz, DPT back to the club as a member of our coaching staff. While many members may have already seen her assisting at tryouts, summer trainings, or preparing for our upcoming Rush Girls Leadership Camp, her return represents something much bigger than a new coaching assignment.

Jess was one of the inaugural participants in Rush Wisconsin's Emerging Coach Program in 2018.

The program was created with a simple goal: address the shortage of women coaching youth soccer by intentionally developing the next generation of female leaders at Rush WI. At a time when only about one-quarter of youth coaches are women, the program was designed to identify high school athletes with leadership potential, provide mentorship, coaching education, and meaningful experience, and encourage them to stay connected to the game long after their playing careers ended.

Over the years, we've celebrated former Emerging Coaches who have graduated and begun coaching in their own communities, including 2020 Emerging Coach Hannah Filandrinos, who now coaches with Chicago Rush, and 2019 Emerging Coach Kelsey Seldon, who now coaches with Sauk Prairie Soccer Club. The program continues to grow as well, with current Emerging Coach Karina Osborne, a student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, returning this summer to help lead the Rush Girls Leadership Camp alongside Executive Director Jess Nash and Jess Lorenz. Seeing multiple generations of Emerging Coaches investing in the next generation of young female leaders is exactly what the program was designed to create.

But welcoming one of our own back to Rush Wisconsin is especially meaningful.

After spending five years as a Rush player, Jess went on to compete collegiately at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls while earning her bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She recently completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and has returned home as she prepares for her board examinations and begins her professional career.

During this transition year, Jess will assist with Rush teams on a part-time basis while settling back into the area. She plans to study for her board exams this summer while searching for a full-time physical therapy position, allowing her to stay connected to the club while easing into her new career. Her hope is to take on a team of her own beginning next year once she's settled professionally.

Her coaching philosophy reflects exactly the kind of leader the Emerging Coach Program hoped to develop:

"My coaching philosophy is centered on developing the complete athlete—not only by building strong technical and tactical soccer skills, but also by fostering confidence, leadership, teamwork, and strong interpersonal skills. I strive to create a positive, challenging environment where players are encouraged to grow both on and off the field, preparing them for success in soccer and in life."

For Executive Director Jess Nash, this moment has been eight years in the making.

"When we launched the Emerging Coach Program in 2018, we weren't simply trying to create coaches for Rush. We were trying to create a way for girls to see a place for themselves in the game beyond playing. Seeing Jess come back to Rush after all these years is honestly one of the most rewarding moments I've had as a leader. To watch her grow from one of our players, to one of our very first Emerging Coaches, and now return home after earning her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree with a desire to give back to the next generation is incredibly special. I couldn't be more excited to welcome her back. On top of being an outstanding person and coach, she brings an entirely new level of expertise in athlete health, movement, and performance that will benefit our players and help move our club forward. It's a great reminder that investing in people is always the right decision."

Some stories take years to tell.  Eight years after becoming one of our very first Emerging Coaches, Jess is coming home to give back to the club that invested in her as a young leader.

For all of us at Rush Wisconsin, that's something worth celebrating.