Laura Jackson - Women's Soccer Coach - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Laura Jackson

Title:
Assistant Coach

Laura Jackson joined the Florida Atlantic University women's soccer staff as assistant coach in March of 2017.

This past season, the Owls continued to succeed on and off the pitch, earning the program's first Conference USA Championship after an 8-1-1 mark in league play, and going 12-8-1 overall. For the second straight year with Jackson on staff, the squad advanced to the C-USA Championship semis. Owl individuals earned six All-C-USA nods, and two All-Region members as well, in Ebba Blomqvist and Mary O'Hara.

That comes on the heels of the squad going 11-8-2 in her first year with the program, and, again, notching a semifinal round appearance at the C-USA Championship. In 2017, four members of the team earned C-USA honors, while two - Asta Arnadottir and Blomqvist - were All-Region.

Jackson came to Boca Raton from the University of Idaho, where she spent four seasons on staff. She helped to lead the Vandals to back-to-back Big Sky regular season titles in her last two years, which included an undefeated conference mark in 2015 (9-0-1), followed by the squad going 7-1-2 in 2016. Overall, Idaho was 24-9-7 during that span, and their 2015 record compared to the season prior was most improved in the NCAA.

Jackson began her collegiate career at Syracuse and finished it at Iona, where she was twice named All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and was team captain and a MAAC All-Tournament team member in 2012. She also coached at Iona before making the move to Idaho, and has experience with both goalkeepers and field players. In 2016, she gained entry into the NSCAA’s prestigious “30 Under 30” program, identifying the top young soccer coaches nationwide.

Prior to her collegiate playing career, Jackson was a member of the Watford club team in the English Premier League, as well as part of the Arsenal Youth Academy. In addition to her college coaching experience, she has also coached club soccer with Moscow United/Quad City Fusion and Idaho Elite Soccer Academy.

Jackson earned her master's degree in neuroscience from Idaho and is working towards her PhD from the school in sports psychology (with a concentration on team and individual psychological performance). She received her undergraduate degree in biology from Iona, and twice while at Syracuse, made the athletic director’s honor roll. She is a native of London, England.