TCS Soccer Coach Announces
USWNT Match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
By Samantha DePriest
Jessica Charman pictured with Jason Upshore before the SheBelieves Cup.
The first thing you may notice about Jessica Charman is her distinct English accent but quickly you realize that her voice is just a part of who she is. Jessica Charman is 110% heart. Coach Jess’s passion for service, mentorship and soccer along with her high energy and knowledge of the game is a combination worth more than gold for our TCS Lions. She has a full plate these days between assisting with coaching teams with our TCS soccer program, leading soccer camps for littles in and around Coweta county, and traveling up and back to North Carolina on match days to serve as the Charlotte FC radio color commentator for the MLS team. She is actually the first full-time female radio color commentator in MLS history. You can find her on WFNZ 92.7 FM on game days as she has commentated every single game since the start of the club.
Calling the US Women’s National Soccer team was a dream come true for Jessica. The game drew quite a crowd and set a new record ever to watch a domestic USWNT friendly and the largest crowd for any USWNT home match since the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. A whopping 50,644 fans were in attendance on Saturday afternoon in the Mercedes - Benz stadium to cheer on the ladies. Jessica goes on to share, “This match was one of the biggest moments in my career so far. It was already going to be special, but having so many Trinity students in attendance just added to that. I am so proud to be a role model and lead by example. I want to show that with. Faith, commitment, and dedication anything is possible. I am grateful to have a chance to utilize my God given gifts to inspire others. I will never take that for granted!”
Several members of our TCS Lady Lions high school team were in attendance.
Coach Jess’s future TCS Lady Lions were in the crowd as well.
Coach Jess pictured centered with TCS Goal Keepers Lily Wozniak (left) and Kendra McCord (right)
Coach Jess serves as Goalie Coach for both our middle and high school girls and boys soccer programs and has been working diligently on training and developing players over the last two years at TCS. She provides the perfect balance of encouragement and ability to draw out strengths in our student athletes
SheBelieves Cup Community Series
(pictured l to r) Dylan DePriest, Kendra McCord, Coach Jess, Connor DePriest, and Colin DePriest at SheBelieves Cup Community Series in Fayetteville.
In continued efforts to develop student leaders, Coach Jess encouraged some of our Trinity Lions soccer players from past and present to join her in serving in the community to help lead a soccer camp held by AYSO in partnership with US Soccer in Fayetteville this past Monday. Coach Jess shares, “I had an incredible time serving as a coach and MC’ing the first US Soccer and AYSO collaboration camp in Fayetteville ahead of the SheBelieves Cup. It was even more special serving alongside friends and some of my student athletes from Trinity.” Senior Captain Connor DePriest shares, “I loved getting to serve with Coach Jess at the soccer camp on Monday. She is a great mentor for our team and brings a lot of energy to our sidelines.” On Thursday, TCS Alumni Dylan DePriest served at the Home Depot Backyard helping to lead the last soccer camp in the Community series. Dylan shares, “I am so grateful to Coach Jess for the opportunity and had a lot of fun this week serving at both camps. Coach Jess truly cares about her players, even after we have graduated TCS, and wants us to reach our fullest potential.”
Coach Jess speaking to campers at the SheBelieves Cup Community Series in Fayetteville on Monday.
Coach Jess encouraging soccer players at camp at the close of camp on Monday.
SheBelieves Cup Community Series soccer camp at Home Depot Backyard.