New season brings new coach to girls soccer

Jaron Jacobsen has been selected as Sisters High School's head coach for the girls soccer program.

He brings with him 27 years of player experience and top-notch coaching experience as well. Jacobsen was a late hire and told The Nugget he is coming into the season a little blind, but is eager and interested in the talent that he will see this year.

"There is a part of me that is kind of excited not knowing what talent I am working with, so I can mold these kids to work hard, play with passion, play as a team, be proud to wear the Outlaw uniform, and compete this year to the highest ability we can," he said.

Jacobsen has played soccer since he was 5 years old and is still playing, currently on a men's team in Bend. Jaron played JV for two years at Barlow High School and his junior and senior year was a varsity starter and helped lead his team to state tournament appearances both years.

In addition, Jaron played on select club teams. He played U-12 through U-15 with West Villa Premiere. The team was three-time runner-up in the Snickers Presidents Cup; the Langley Cup Champions, out of British Columbia, Canada; and were three-time Poulsbo Tournament Champions; and the Salem Waterfront Champions.

From there, he played U-16 through U-19 Eastside Football Club, which is now called the Eastside Timbers, which is a regional travel team. With this squad, he made a quarterfinal appearance in the Far East regionals, which was held in Spokane, Washington. It was a huge tournament that drew top teams from Washington, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Utah, and Hawaii.

Jacobsen played one year of collegiate soccer for Warner Pacific College (2003). He played in all but three games his freshman year, and started the last seven games. He scored three goals and had three assists in that one season. Jacobsen also played a single season for a semi-pro indoor soccer league, Back2Back Bombers (2006-2007), and scored six goals and recorded nine assists.

In addition to years of playing experience, he's also proved to be a remarkable coach. His coaching career started as head coach of the girls JV soccer squad at his alma mater, Sam Barlow High School (2006). He was also the assistant varsity coach for the boys program.

In 2012, Jacobsen was the head coach in the Eugene Spring League for a travel team from Bend. The following year, he was the head coach for the Oregon Rush U-14 girls, which took second place in the Capitol Cup in the Salem Tournament, and finished with a 3-1-1 record.

Jaron's most recent coaching stint was at Summit High School. He coached seven seasons for the Storm (2010-current), three seasons as the JV2 head coach, and four seasons as the JV head coach. All seven seasons he was the varsity assistant to head coach Jamie Brock. The Storm were state champs five of those seven seasons, highlighted by four straight titles (2012-2015).

Jacobsen has lived in Central Oregon for the past nine years, and currently lives in Redmond with his wife, Jessica, and his two children, Rylee (3 years old), and Maggie, who is 21 months.

Jaron told The Nugget that he is dedicated to the Outlaws soccer program and is committed long term.

"I plan to stay here for a long time," said Jacobsen. "I think the girls and the program need that. I plan to keep things pretty basic for the girls: hard work, dedication, respect, teamwork, positive attitude, sportsmanship, and communication, and of course have fun.

"I want the kids to be excited for soccer, and eventually hope our numbers are big enough to field both a JV and varsity squad. This year will be a fresh start for all of us to get Sisters High back on the map for being a competitive school for girls soccer."