This story appears in FCA Magazine’s September/October 2015 issue. Subscribe today!
Hometown:
San Diego, Calif.
Family:
Husband: Aaron
Children: Mirabelle, McCoy and Marielle
Coaching Career:
• San Jose State University – Head Coach (2014-present)
• California State University, Bakersfield – Head Coach (2011-13)
• Virginia Tech – Assistant (2010)
• American University – Assistant (2009)
“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.” - Psalm 107:1
San Jose State University’s Jolene Shepardson brings her coaching savvy to the women’s volleyball program and works hard to create an environment that fosters trust and accountability. For Shepardson and her husband, Aaron (who’s also the associate head coach), balancing athletics and family comes naturally.
FCA: How do you approach your position as a coach?
JS: You can positively or negatively affect more than just your players’ lives. Coaches can reach as far as family members, coworkers, teachers and even the players who your players might coach one day. My coaching style is mostly about teaching life lessons through drills and interactions in the games. I feel it is my job to prepare these young women for real life, so they can not only succeed, but enjoy life through the hard times.
FCA: How is coaching a ministry for you and your husband?
JS: Our whole relationship has been coaching together. We have been married for 10 years and coaching even longer than that. God has blessed us with very different qualities and minds, so we bring different ideas to the table and respect each other enough to listen to each other. Aaron and I do our best to live in a way for young ladies to know and feel God's presence. Every one of our drills becomes a life lesson. This is what I see when I am coaching, and this is how I speak on the court. We also meet with our players to see how life is going and be there for them when they may need help.
FCA: How has your faith impacted your players?
JS: My trust in God has strengthened through the years. I hope my players come to know God and have a relationship with Christ; that would bring so much joy to my heart.
When I see all the girls I recruited and trained come together as teammates and friends on and off the court, when they look at each other and smile, you know all your hard work was worth it.
FCA: How do you keep pace with your hectic schedule as a collegiate coach?
JS: God has blessed me—a hard-working mom with a job I love—with a committed husband and three wonderful, healthy children, so my mind and heart are always stimulated. I work a lot, but keeping my thoughts on His Word, stopping to hear Him, and talking daily with Him help.
Early in the morning before the kids rise is when I study His Word, but it ends up being at night when I am holding my kids and praying with them that I actually do better at listening. This is when I actually slow down enough to go deep into prayer.
FCA: How have you been involved with FCA?
JS: My husband and I helped start it at our former university with some friends who were working in FCA. It has given me lifelong friendships and provided people for our players to talk with outside of our coaching staff. Right now we have a team chaplain (Kelly Elliott) who is available to our players and comes and prays with us before home matches. I also do a women's Bible study once a week through FCA.
We need as many people out there educating and spreading the love of Christ as we can. This is a huge time in people’s lives when they are trying to figure out life, and you want to help open the path for the Holy Spirit to fall into their hearts.
FCA Staff Quote:
“Whether on or off the court, Jolene is not shy about her relationship with Jesus. As a result, seeds of faith are being planted in the lives of her players. She loves Jesus, people and volleyball; put them together and you get her ministry.”
-Kelly Elliott, San Jose State University FCA Campus Director
-FCA-
–This article appears in the September/October 2015 issue of FCA Magazine. To view the issue digitally, click here: September/October 2015 FCA Mag Digital
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Photos courtesy of Terrell Lloyd/SJSU Athletics