Discipleship Through Coaching

By Rachel Oatman
June 6, 2022

Discipleship Through Coaching

“Am I using my gifts and talents to glorify God?” This is the question Kathleen Paulsen, Ph.D., John Brown University’s women’s soccer head coach, asked herself before realizing her calling to coaching and teaching. Paulsen was in pursuit of a God-honoring position. Initially, she was on track to become a physician’s assistant, but she realized that her gifts were better suited for a discipleship setting.

“I believe coaching is the purest form of discipleship. You handpick a group of 24 girls, and you walk through four years of life with them. You look at how Jesus modeled his life – he picked 12 men and did three years with them. I really believe that’s our calling in life,” Paulsen said.

This realization led Paulsen to where she is today, coaching her ninth season of JBU women’s soccer and teaching exercise physiology. Paulsen accepted the position as JBU’s women’s soccer head coach in February 2013. Her experience as an NCAA Division I player with the Arkansas Razorbacks, her time post-graduation with the Arkansas Comets of the Women’s Premier Soccer League, and her overall diligence and Christ-centered character made her an ideal candidate for the position.

A native of Littleton, Colorado, Paulsen moved to Arkansas to study pre-med biology at the University of Arkansas and to play soccer with the Razorbacks from 2006-2010. There, she excelled academically and athletically. Paulsen earned Southeastern Conference and UA academic honor roll accolades and played in all 77 UA games as a midfielder, starting 59 times.

A sharp scholar and accomplished athlete, Paulsen naturally demonstrates JBU’s “Head, Heart, Hand” educational philosophy, which attracted her most to JBU. “When I came to my interview [at JBU] and started explaining my dream for coaching — the idea of discipleship and faith involved with athletics — I started to realize, I actually think JBU is a place where I could do this,” said Paulsen. “I could live this dream and vision out in the way I would desire, whether that’s going on mission trips or having Bible studies, whatever it might be.”

Paulsen incorporates her past experiences as an athlete into her coaching and teaching. For her, it’s all about the why, both in the classroom and on the field.

“Especially in athletics, you’ve been told to do things your entire life, but you don’t know why,” Paulsen said. “When you can learn the why behind what it means, what it does, why you’re doing it, and how your body is responding, you become a lot more passionate about what you’re doing.”

Paulsen also leverages her education to optimize her coaching strategies. In spring 2020, Paulsen earned her doctorate in health, sport, and exercise science. Her dissertation covered sports performance with the use of heart monitors and GPS, which Paulsen mentioned is helpful in knowing when to rest players.

Committed to coaching, teaching, and learning, Paulsen said the most challenging part of it all is living a balanced life. By recognizing this, Paulsen can give her players a healthy perspective on life, encouraging them not only in their athletics but in their social and spiritual lives as well.

“At the end of the day, I don’t think soccer is the biggest deal in the world,” Paulsen said. “I wonder who people are when they walk out of the program more than what they accomplished here. Have they had moments throughout their time at John Brown where they have known and experienced God in a way that has shaped them for their life? That’s my prayer, my hope.”

As for the future of the soccer program, Paulsen maintains the same vision she had coming into the program — “that our program continues to shape incredible women that walk out of here.”

“I’m competitive, too,” Paulsen added when describing her goals for the soccer program. “I’d love to win a national championship. That’s always the aim, especially as a coach, but, if you can’t do it well, I don’t want to do it. I only want to do it the right way.”

And the right way is exactly how the Golden Eagles seem to be headed in recent years. In 2020, they finished with the best winning percentage in program history with a 14-0-1 record (.967) and recorded the most wins in a single NAIA National Championships run in program history. The 2021 season produced a second-straight undefeated SAC regular-season title and SAC tournament title, and the Golden Eagles reached 18 wins for the third time under Paulsen’s tenure, qualifying for their fourth consecutive NAIA National Championships appearance.

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