Jill Wolf is back on the field as a soccer coach.
Wolf has been hired as the new girls soccer coach at Santa Barbara High. She takes over from Jeff Johnson, who stepped down after guiding the Dons to back-to-back CIF playoff apperances and a Channel League title in 2012-13.
Wolf is no stranger to local soccer. She is the wife of longtime Westmont men’s soccer coach Dave Wolf and has coached in the community. She was the head coach for the girls team at Carpinteria High from 1991-94 and she worked as an assistant with the women’s programs at SBCC in 1992 and Westmont in 1993.
For the past few years, she’s been involved in the Santa Barbara High soccer program. Her son, Tanner, played for the Dons and was part of the CIF Regional Championship team in 2011. Her daughter, Bailey, is a current member of the varsity girls team.
“I have had kids involved in SBHS soccer for the past six years and have grown to love the school and the soccer program,” Wolf said. “I know how great playing a sport for your school can be and I want to create an environment where every girl can have that great experience.”
Wolf received a high compliment from one of her former players at Westmont, All-American Kristi Walker. In an article in Top Drawer Soccer, Walker, a coach with the youth club Real So Cal, said she was inspired by Wolf.
“She was inspiring because she knew how to relate to us,” said Walker in the article. “Her expectation for us was to be the best we can be, and she led by example. She worked hard as a coach for us, and it made you, as a player, want to work hard for her.”
Wolf will have several players returning next season, including her daughter.
“I am very excited to work with the girls and look forward to a great season next year,” she said.
