Getting To Know Quinnipiac Women's Soccer Volunteer Assistant Coach Jami Kranich
3/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HAMDEN, Conn. - Quinnipiac women's soccer volunteer assistant coach Jami Kranich has enjoyed a tremendous playing career, headlined by a stint with the US Women's Soccer National Team. A native of Hamden, Connecticut, Kranich took sometime for a brief interview to discuss her accomplishments, her current experience with the Boston Breakers of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and her first season on the sideline of the Quinnipiac women's soccer program.
1) You completed your first season on the sideline as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac last fall. Working alongside of Coach Clarke and with the Quinnipiac coaching staff, describe your first experience on the sideline as a coach rather than a player.
It was definitely a change going from on the field to on the sideline. I accepted the fact that I had no control over what happened in the game and hoped that the training and warm-up prepared the keeper as much as possible. One thing that was different for me would be when Nat would ask for some feedback during half time or after the game. It's something I also do when I play. So during the game I was sure to see how a play developed and did my best to tell her what she could have done differently to have more of an impact on the play.
2) As an assistant coach this past year at Quinnipiac, what was the most important thing you took away from your experience?
I loved being able to coach under Dave. He knows so much about the game and he would make a point to explain to me why he was doing a certain drill or ask what I thought. I learned a lot through watching the drills he did with the girls and how he got a particular point across to them. A lot of the ideas within Dave's style of play he has brought to QU I will take with me and use if/when I decide to coach as a profession.
3) A local product out of Hamden, Connecticut, how important was it to return home to Connecticut and work within a Division I soccer program?
Hamden will always be home for me and it was so great that I was able to come back after being in Boston and coach in a setting that was familiar to me. To add to that, I wasn't just coaching anywhere, but a DI program. After I'm done playing I am leaning towards coaching and to have on my resume that I coached at a great DI program and under Dave is something I was really excited about when I decided to coach at QU.
4) You enjoyed an outstanding four year career at Villanova University, claiming All-BIG EAST honors in 2012. Describe your experience at Villanova and how it helped you develop as a soccer player.
I would have to say that my game as a freshman was completely different than when I was a senior. Throughout my four years at Villanova, I developed my swag and confidence as a player. I went from being the freshman who hardly yelled "KEEPER" in a game to being able to command my back line and organize them when the other team was threatening. My technique and range improved along with feeling more comfortable with the ball at my feet. These changes came from good training, coaches, teammates, quality opponents, and most importantly, in my opinion, game experience.
5) In 2012, you became the first Villanova player to participate in a World Cup event as an undergraduate student. What was the 2012 season like for you?
During my 2012 season at Villanova, I missed half of our games (all of our non conference games) due to the World Cup. It was tough coming back to my Villanova team after missing that amount of time, but my teammates and coaching staff had supported me throughout the entire experience and it did not take long to get into the swing of things at school.
6) You were a member of the 2012 U-20 U.S. Women's National Team that won the U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup in Japan. Describe the team's run and what it was like to win the World Cup?
I started getting invited into camps for this U20 team in January of 2012 and the World Cup was later that year in August. It was my first experience being invited into a National Team camp setting and it was an amazing opportunity to play with some of the best players and people I have ever met. Once in Japan at the World Cup, we went 1-1-1 in our group, losing to Germany who we later beat in the final. Winning the World Cup is a pretty indescribable experience. I got a rush of pure joy, happiness, excitement, pride, and relief. We accomplished our goal and won a World Cup. It was the most amazing experience I have had in my life thus far.
7) You wrapped up your collegiate playing career in 2013, and selected in the in the fourth round (32 overall) in the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Boston Breakers. Describe the feeling of seeing your name selected.
My draft experience felt like it was a total of 10 hours long, but in reality it was about four. I stood in the same spot, didn't move and hardly spoke for the duration. I stood their patiently waiting, watching girls I had played with get their names called. Then finally my name was called and I felt my body relax. Back in first grade when you are asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?" my answer was always "a professional soccer player." And at that moment during the draft my dream had came true. I was not only on my way to becoming a professional soccer player, I was privileged enough to be drafted, and to top it all off, I was going to Boston which was only two hours from home which was great so that my family could come watch me play.
8) Earlier this year, you completed your first full season as a professional soccer player with the Breakers. What are the major differences, if any, between collegiate soccer and professional soccer?
Just like college soccer is a major step up from high school and club soccer, pro soccer is the same way in comparison to college soccer. You go from playing with girls who are the same age within four years to girls who could be potentially 10 years older than you, married, have kids, won an Olympic gold medal, and so on. Every aspect of the game is amplified. You have to play faster, think faster, and be stronger physically and mentally. One girl on my team has been playing pro soccer for 14 years, and she will be the first one to tell you if you are doing something wrong. This is not meant to be a negative thing, but she's just telling you that it is not good enough. This level demands the best you are capable of giving and on a day to day basis. At the end of the day, our job is just to play the same game we have loved since we were five.
9) What are your career aspirations in the future? Do you hope to be a soccer coach someday, whether it is at the collegiate level or professional level?
My immediate career aspiration is to keep playing soccer for as long as my body allows me. As much as I like coaching, I love playing 20x more. My hope is to some day start and play for a professional team and beyond that to be involved with the US National Team. After I am done playing I do hope to continue coaching. From this past season with QU I have learned that I do enjoy the college level. I think that I am able to interact with the players well and I would be used to the lifestyle of traveling the country playing games since I have been through it. I really enjoy coaching goalkeepers, and ideally I would like to someday be an associate head coach of a DI college/university and be in charge of the keepers.
As for the Quinnipiac women's soccer program, spring season has officially begun and preparation for the 2015 campaign in underway. The Bobcats have games scattered throughout the month of April and train daily until the end of the academic session. Up next on the spring schedule, Quinnipiac takes on University of New Haven on Thursday, April 2 at Kayo Field in West Haven.
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