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Jo Fennema - 'I was mad at soccer – but I love it too much'
After being forced to quit playing aged 24, former USA youth international JO FENNEMA tells STEPH FAIRBAIRN how coaching relit her passion for the game
As a player, Joanna Boyles Fennema performed at the highest level.
She spent her four college years with the North Carolina Tar Heels, represented the U17 US national team and played for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL.
Alongside success, Fennema’s playing days came with a lot of challenges – she was drafted by the Boston Breakers just before the team folded, suffered two ACL injuries while at college, discovered she has severely degenerative discs in her back.
This back injury, and subsequent hip labrum tears, led Fennema to retire at 24.
A chance encounter led her back into the game, and she is now thriving as an assistant coach at Columbus State University (CSU).
SCW caught up with Jo to talk about the transition from player to coach, and how coaches can best support players going through injuries...
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