Meet Coach Clara!

Coaches Corner - Clara!

Where did you grow up and what brought you to the Bay Area?

I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. I attended school on the East Coast, and then moved to San Francisco two years ago for work.

What is your soccer story?

I started playing soccer at age five, and never stopped! I played on a competitive travel team throughout high school, and then played club in college. As an adult, I've played in various recreational leagues and currently the Golden Gate Women's Soccer League.

As a young girl soccer gave me an outlet for my competitive-nature and taught me it was okay to compete with (and often be better than!) the boys. As an adult, the all-women soccer league I play in connected me with talented, strong women who both push and inspire me. 

 Where & what did you study?

I graduated from Loyola Maryland in 2015 and George Washington Law School in 2018. As an attorney, I work with a federal judge managing and deciding employment-related cases. Following my current term-limited position, I plan on working at an employment-law related firm. 

How did you end up at GLG?

In college, I volunteered with a tutoring program called Soccer Without Borders. When I moved to the Bay Area, I was looking for a volunteer opportunity and was lucky to find an organization like Girls Leading Girls which combines my love of soccer and passion for empowering young women. 

What GLG team do you coach?

The 6th Grade Wolfpack!

Your favorite position to play?

Defense (on the wing) 

What's your superpower?

My ability to make excellent guacamole. 

Why is it important to have women coaches?

As a player you often look up to your coaches. Growing up most of my coaches were male and although they were great coaches, as a girl, it wasn't as easy to identify with them or hold them up as a role model. Seeing other women in empowered positions (whether it be a CEO, president, or coach) shows girls that they too can lead.

Why is it important to get more girls into sports and keep them in?

Sports help girls develop a sense of confidence and agency that, unfortunately, is often reserved for boys. This confidence transfers over into other aspects of life and provides a foundation for success.  I've also found that playing sports with other girls helps girls develop an important support system and sense of belonging that builds self-esteem. 

What's the best advice you've ever received?

Do it even if it scares you. Often the most challenging experiences are the most rewarding.