JBU Athletics Staff Q&A
By Jay Nickel
July 12, 2024
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JBU Athletics Staff Leaving:

Mackenzie May – 5 years
Positions held: Athletic Trainer, Professor
Favorite Memory: Being with the women's basketball team when they won the conference tournament this past year. Getting to cut down the nets with them is a memory I won't ever forget.
Favorite Tradition: When the teams invite me to give their pregame devotional. Anytime I'm asked to join them for a pregame ritual, I'm all in and it's a fun time!

Scott Schochler – 11 years
Positions held: Head cross country, track and field coach
Favorite Memory: Allika Pearson had an incredible career at JBU. Winning several races, earning All-American honors, coming within about 150 yards of winning a national championship. But her last race was a special moment – watching her compete in her final race for JBU in the 5,000 meters at the NAIA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, and seeing the joy on her face as a chapter in her life and athletic career finished well was incredible, even though that specific race was a struggle. I actually gave her a hug (something that is rare for me) and told her how proud I was of her.
Favorite Traditions: Our cross country team preseason training camp we have done several times in Washington state. It's just a great time of being with the team and getting to know the athletes. Secondly, the weekly bonfires and spaghetti dinners we did for many years with the team. Again, a great time with many unguarded conversations about running, school, and mainly life.

Jeff Soderquist – 31 years
Positions held: Head tennis coach, Sports Information Director, Head Women's Basketball Coach, Assistant Director of Athletics
Favorite Memory: The run to the Fab Four (national semifinals) in 2014. The way the team was playing at that time of the year. Then all being together in Kentucky and the fun we had. Secondly, the run this year going through the conference season undefeated and winning the SAC tournament. All the ups and downs of the season and the 2023-24 group kept finding different ways to win and different players stepped up at different times. But I truly had a bunch more with all the years I have spent here and all the memories.
Favorite Tradition: Beginning of the year team retreat. Whether it was going out to the cabin on Beaver Lake or going to a camp. I loved doing that every year.
JBU Athletics Staff Coming In:

Samuel Estrada - Head Men's Soccer Coach
Where are you from? San Salvador, El Salvador. I came to the USA and straight to JBU in 2017.
Where did you go to college? Were you a student-athlete? I played four years of soccer at JBU. My freshman and sophomore years were transition years for me adapting to the soccer culture and fitness. My upperclassmen seasons were very good years for me and the team. Then in 2019, I was blessed to be on the team that won the SAC regular season and tournament championships.
What drew you to coaching at JBU? I felt God calling me to step up as the next head coach at JBU. I did the "interim" role in the spring semester and found a lot of joy getting to spend more time with the guys on and off the field. Mentoring, discipling, and managing student-athletes are some of the things that are very exciting for me. JBU's values and mission fit very well with my convictions and what we want to do as a men's soccer program.
What is your greatest strength? As a recent student-athlete and being part of El Salvador U15 & 17 National Teams, I bring a deep knowledge of the game domestically and overseas. My background in psychology and recent playing experience gives me a great understanding of the needs of this new generation of players. Also, my experience as a recruiter for domestic and international students at JBU has given me the skills to recruit great student-athletes to the program.
What's one thing you really enjoy about JBU already? The southern hospitality at its finest. The community in JBU and Northwest Arkansas have been incredible experiences here so far. Since day one, I have felt genuine support and love from the staff, faculty, and students. This brings a lot of motivation and excitement to take on such important role.

Peter Cunningham - Head cross country, track and field coach
Where are you from? Branson, Missouri.
Where did you go to college? Were you a student-athlete? I ran cross country and track at Colorado Christian University for three years. I also served as a captain and chaplain for the team. I was blessed to be part of the early years of CCU becoming a competitive program.
What drew you to coaching at JBU? After five seasons of assisting with the cross country and track and field programs, I've found JBU is a university where I can lead student-athletes towards healthy spiritual, academic, and athletic fullness.
What is your greatest strength? My desire to know how each athlete ticks, individually, in order to love them well and inspire them to consistently work hard.
What's one thing you really enjoy about JBU already? The cappuccinos at Ground Floor Coffee.

Sydni Salvato - Head women's basketball coach
Where are you from? I grew up in Lubbock, Texas and lived there until spending the last three years in Oklahoma City.
Where did you go to college? Were you a student-athlete? After playing four years of high school basketball at New Home High School, I had to focus more on furthering my coaching career while in college due to health issues. I graduated from Lubbock Christian University and worked for the women's basketball team as a Student Assistant Coach. During that time, I helped with scouting reports, recruiting, player development, and team operations.
What drew you to coaching at JBU? I've known for years that God was calling me to ministry through coaching women's basketball. In today's coaching climate, there are not many opportunities for coaches to be open and honest about their faith in a public setting. So, it has been my prayer that God would provide the rare opportunity that would allow me that freedom and platform to speak the truth and minister to young women. I felt an immediate peace and excitement when the position became available at John Brown University because I knew it was exactly what I have been praying for all these years. It is a tight knit community that has a proven track record of helping young coaches grow and achieve sustained success in the most important aspects. I knew from the moment I set foot on campus that JBU was the place I wanted to be.
What is your greatest strength? As I begin this new journey, I believe that my youth and passion for building relationships will be my greatest asset. I have been fortunate enough to gain experience over the past few years in connecting with young women and helping them grow both on the court and in their faith. As a young coach, I have a unique ability to empathize with my players and help them navigate this phase of life. Of course, one of the main goals is to be excellent on the court, but it starts with great mentorship and relationships. I am excited to have the opportunity to mentor these young women.
What is one thing you really enjoy about JBU already? I have been extremely thankful for the outpouring of support and encouragement I have already received. It is obvious that every individual truly enjoys being here and there is a collective desire to make new employees feel welcome and supported. The family atmosphere drew me to JBU, and it is still a tremendous encouragement to me as I begin this journey.