We are taught from a young age that first impressions are everything. They can be the difference in whether you get the job or not. They can set the tempo for an entire relationship. Some struggle with them, while others excel so well that within a matter of seconds they can leave you feeling like you’ve known each other for years. Sohaila Akhavein falls in the latter category. From the moment you meet her, you can tell that she is exactly what the women’s soccer team needs, and exactly what will get them to the next level.
Born in Lansing, Michigan, but hailing from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Akhavein’s soccer career began at the age of three when she saw her two older brothers playing and by seven, she was hooked. Throughout her early career she crafted her skills and earned her spot as a four-year varsity starter for her Oshkosh North High School team.
“High school is one of those funny age groups. Our team was not good… We played in a very tough conference and we finished [in the bottom two] all four years. It can kind of [alter] what you really think of the game and what you want out of it. It was hard, but going into college I was hoping that was going to change and it did.”
Akhavein took her opportunity at Marian College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and ran with it, earning first team all-conference honors and breaking Marian’s record for goals in a single season by a freshman.
It was her junior year of high school when Akhavein first thought about becoming a soccer coach and since then it has been her dream to coach at the collegiate level. She was given that chance as an assistant coach at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin. While she was there, the team reached a program best 10-7-1 record, but she found herself wanting more and found that in Blackburn.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to coach college soccer. When I first started… it was at a very small school in Wisconsin, Ripon, which has the exact kind of feel of Blackburn. The students know all of the students. The professors know you… Even though it’s a small campus it’s fun to bring them together, in a closer knit community.”
Akhavein also mentioned her interest in the work program because of the opportunity and experience it brings, understanding that “it’s a great feeling to be a college athlete, but it’s what you get out of your college experience academically that’s even more important.”
Along with academics, Akhavein also sees the importance of a good team chemistry and overall positive, enthusiastic atmosphere. A self-proclaimed movie buff, her favorite movie, “Toy Story,” might provide some clues to her coaching strategy. She loves the message of the movie as there are many correlations between it and her own coaching philosophy as it emphasizes the importance of teamwork and no man (or toy) left behind.