Written by Tim Petermann, former UWEC Athletics Sports Information Director
JD Jones, assistant coach for Sean Yengo and the UW-Eau Claire women's soccer program, received the 2021 Joe Merten Coaching Award at the Blugold Hall of Fame banquet Friday, October 15.
The Joe Merten Coaching Award is a $500 cash stipend available to any part-time assistant coach, graduate assistant or community coach in any of the 25 sports in the Blugold sports module. The award is named to honor Blugold basketball Hall of Famer Joe Merten, who died in 2008. According to the family's criteria for the award, the recipient "shall demonstrate a deep commitment to the student-athletes and embody a passion for lifelong learning and the 'love of the game'".
In nominating Jones, Coach Yengo called him a "person of great passion and love for the game of soccer." When Yengo was introduced to Jones four years ago, his paid staff were all accounted for, so JD volunteered his time and energy to the Blugold program. Yengo revealed that "The team simply loved his energy and knowledge of the game, especially in the area of our possession-oriented style of soccer."
The Blugolds went from not qualifying for the WIAC tournament to playing in the championship game the following year. "There is no question in my mind that JD's influence on the team and our style of play was a big reason for the jump in just one year," said Yengo.
"As a result of his commitment to our team and program, I was able to elevate him to a paid assistant," said Yengo. "JD sacrifices so much for our program. This summer he ran a summer camp, bringing in 18 players from inner city Chicago onto our campus."
Jones grew up in Buffalo, NY and attended Howard University where he played soccer for a while. He was determined to become an attorney and majored in political science and psychology. While living and working in Chicago, he said he fell back in love with soccer and started coaching youth and travel teams. That's when he decided being a lawyer was not his calling and dedicated his time to coaching.
His family moved to Eau Claire from Denver when his wife landed a job with the Marshfield Clinic. After arriving in EC, he completed a master's degree in sports coaching that he had started in Denver. In addition to assisting the Blugold women's varsity program, Jones also is the head coach of the very successful women's club team on campus. He is also in his second year as Director of Coaching for Eau Claire United's soccer program. His duties with the city's lone travel soccer program include educating coaches, creating club curriculum and driving the soccer vision and identity of the soccer club. Despite COVID, the administrative and coaching team feel they have accomplished some great feats to provide a fun, educational and safe environment for youth soccer to thrive, according to Jone.
DJ and his wife Ali are parents of three children, the youngest of whom was born this past summer.
