Offside in the Bay: 2 the Pitch and Beyond

In this episode of Offside in the Bay, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Jason Sacks of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) to discuss youth sports culture, positive coaching, burnout, mental health, and the future of soccer development in America. Guest Jason Sacks has spent nearly 20 years helping coaches, parents, and organizations create healthier sports environments through the Pos...

Former MLS striker and USL MVP Matt Fondy joins Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban to share his journey from professional soccer to community impact in Oakland. After navigating the highs and lows of a pro career—open tryouts, contracts, releases, and resilience—Matt found a new purpose off the field. Through his nonprofit, Oakland Genesis, he’s working to dismantle the pay-to-play model by providing f...

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with former professional soccer player Jordan Jeslova to explore a journey that was anything but linear. From falling in love with the game at just three years old to competing at Santa Clara University and reaching the professional level, Jordan’s story is one of passion, resilience, and determination. But it is also shaped by injuries, setb...

Offside in the Bay goes behind the scenes of the 2026 World Cup build-up with Tommy O'Hare-1998 U.S. Olympic short track speed skater and a longtime sports-media/technology executive. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan tapped Tommy to lead the city's big-event planning-everything from fan experiences to funding to safety. Tommy breaks down what it takes to create a true ‘fan fest' environment, why communit...

Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban welcome a true pioneer of American soccer: former U.S. Men's National Team captain John Harkes-MLS champion and the first American to play in the English Premier League. John reflects on breaking barriers overseas, the early ‘Wild West' years of the U.S. game, and why patience has always been part of the American soccer story. The conversation spans 1994's lasting imp...

Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Mike McNeill, President & GM of the San Francisco Glens' USL League Two and USL W League teams and Executive Director of the Glens Academy. Mike shares how a community club founded in 1961 evolved into one of the Bay Area's most ambitious soccer pipelines-from youth development to pre-pro opportunities. They dig into what it takes to build a true club cu...

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban explore the intersection of technology, data, and player development with Barry McCabe, Director at the Copa Soccer Training Center. From his roots playing in Ireland to leading a state-of-the-art facility in Walnut Creek, Barry discusses how objective data is changing the way we identify talent and measure growth in youth soccer. The conversation div...

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban dive into the often-overlooked mental side of youth and elite sports with Dr. JoAnn Dahlkoetter, a licensed clinical sports psychologist, former elite endurance athlete, and author. From burnout and pressure to confidence, visualization, and mindset, this conversation explores how athletes, parents, and coaches can better support the whole person — no...

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Andrew Donnery, CEO of Elk Grove Soccer to break down the realities of youth soccer in the United States. From pay-to-play pressure and coaching quality to access, affordability, and the impact of the 2026 World Cup, Andrew offers candid insight into what’s working, what’s broken, and how the system could evolve. Key Topics: - Is the U.S...

The 2026 World Cup draw is out — and now comes the analysis, overanalysis, and excitement. Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban are joined by former MLS midfielder youth sports executive Kelly Gray to break down what the draw means for the U.S., the Bay Area, and the future of soccer in America. From expectations for the U.S. Men’s National Team to the global stars, underdog stories, and the long-term im...

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Adam Cooper, one of the most successful college soccer coaches in the country and the longtime architect of the powerhouse program at St. Mary’s College.  Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Episode 17 02:05 – Falling in Love With Soccer 05:42 – The Youth Soccer Landscape Then vs. Now 09:10 – Getting Noticed by UCLA 12:45 – The Jump to High-Le...

What’s it really like to go from youth soccer to the pros at just 16 years old? In this episode, Bay Area native Niko Tsakiris joins Claudine and Alex to talk about his incredible journey from kicking a ball around his backyard to wearing the Earthquakes jersey and representing the U.S. on the world stage. Niko shares what it’s like growing up in a soccer family, the mental challenges of turning p...

Analytics has officially entered the pitch — and at Mustang Soccer Club, it’s changing everything. In this episode, hosts Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Dana Taylor, Director of Analytics at Mustang, to explore how data and technology are transforming youth soccer from the inside out. Taylor, a longtime collegiate and club coach, shares how Mustang has built one of the most advanced y...

In this episode of "Offside in the Bay" Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban as kick off the college season with a deep dive into the roots and future of soccer. This week, they welcome Jerry Smith, the legendary head coach of Santa Clara University women's soccer. With over 500 career wins, two national championships, and a legacy of developing professional and international players, Coach Smith offers...

In this episode, Claudine Wong and co-host @thealexlobban sit down with Sarina Bolden, the Bay Area–born striker who made history for the Philippines by scoring the country’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup goal. From her youth soccer days in Milpitas to representing her heritage on the world stage, Sarina shares her journey of resilience, family influence, and chasing dreams across continents....

Episode Summary What does it take to build a professional soccer club from the ground up—and make it matter to the community it serves? In this episode of Offside in the Bay: To the Pitch and Beyond, Claudine and Alex sit down with Tennyson Wilson, co-founder of Town FC, the Bay Area’s MLS Next Pro affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes. From youth academies to the pro pathway, Town FC is working t...

Hosts: Claudine Wong & Alex Lobban Guest: Steve Powell Vice President, For Soccer; former executive with Oakland Roots, Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes) This week, Claudine and Alex sit down with longtime soccer executive Steve Powell to dig into the evolving world of soccer fandom in the U.S. Steve has spent decades shaping the sport from the inside — from MLS beginnings to grassroots develo...

In this episode of Offside in the Bay: To the Pitch and Beyond, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Ben Maxwell, owner and coaching director at Player One Performance. From his beginnings in Scotland to leading supplemental training in Northern California, Ben shares insights on youth development, the U.S. soccer landscape, and what separates good players, coaches, and programs from great...

In this episode of Offside in the Bay: To the Pitch and Beyond, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Cailin Mullins, head women’s soccer coach at Diablo Valley College. From her unlikely start as a young girl playing on boys’ teams in West Virginia, to competing in the ACC against legends like Mia Hamm, to coaching at Stanford and ultimately leading a junior college program, Cailin shares i...

Episode Summary:In this episode, we sit down with Jordan Ferrell, Technical Director for the Oakland Roots Sports Club, to explore how he spots soccer talent in a diverse and competitive landscape. Jordan breaks down his unique approach to scouting—distinguishing between the obvious “shouting talents” and the often overlooked “whispering talents.” From youth academies to professional transitions,...

In this episode of Offside in the Bay, hosts Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban talk with MVLA ECNL Head Coach Esteban Sosa and three of this incredible team’s players — Kaylie Giusti, Allison Park (a team captain), and Salsa Salita. They reflect on the team’s journey to the National Championship in Richmond, Virginia, discussing: The one-game-at-a-time mindset Pivotal tournament moments MVLA’s approac...

A lifelong love of soccer and Oakland fuels Tommy Hodul’s journey—from originally dreaming of music education to co-founding Oakland Roots SC, a club where culture, activism, and winning come together on and off the pitch. Join Claudine Wong, Alex Lobban, and Tommy for a passionate conversation about building community through soccer, the thrill of the game, and why bowling just might be Tommy’s h...

In this episode of Offside in the Bay: 2 the Pitch and Beyond, we sit down with Kelly Coffey, Head Coach of Dominican College Women’s Soccer, to break down what life is really like as a college player—and what it takes to get there. From the mindset shift required at the next level to the recruitment process and deal breakers coaches look out for, this episode is packed with must-know insight for...