My name is Samantha Jones and I have proudly served as the Soccer Director for Sherrills Ford Optimist since 2021, when I relocated from California to North Carolina. Soccer has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up playing recreational soccer before advancing to club and travel teams, and I competed through high school until injuries prevented me from playing competitively. I continued playing intramural soccer in college. I also spent my teenage years refereeing, which gave me a well-rounded perspective and appreciation for the game.
My love for coaching began when I started coaching my oldest son at the age of five. Since then, my passion for developing young athletes has only grown. As a mom of three soccer-playing boys — Ethan (13), Matthew (9), and Nathan (7) — I am invested in creating a program that emphasizes strong technical skills, teamwork, sportsmanship, and most importantly, a genuine love for the game.I firmly believe that teaching foundational skills and teamwork early sets players — and the entire program — up for long-term success. My vision for SFO Soccer is to see the program continue to grow while cultivating an environment that is welcoming, positive, and fun, yet competitive within our leagues.
From August through November, the SFO fields truly become my home away from home. I am incredibly grateful for the welcoming SFO community and am committed to helping the program continue to grow, compete, and teach a love for the game.
