Wednesday, March 29, 2023 /
/ Women’s Month — 3

Before Jen Klein took the reins 
as head coach of the Michigan women’s 
soccer team in 2018, the Wolverines had 
not won a Big Ten Tournament title in 
over 20 years. Beyond that, they hadn’t 
made it to the NCAA Tournament since 
2016. With the introduction of Klein, 
however, the team hoped to reach new 
heights. 
And in the five years since she took 
the reins, they’ve done just that.
In 2021, her fourth season at Mich-
igan, the Wolverines achieved the long 
sought after Big Ten Tournament title. 
While performance and skill were im-
portant in this achievement, a vital com-
ponent went beyond the talent. Klein’s 
unique coaching style and desire to 
facilitate a positive culture for her team 
played a key role.
“In years past, we struggled with 
team culture,” junior defender Sarah 
Bridenstine told The Daily. “… She re-
ally stresses that in order to have a cham-
pionship team you need to have a good 
culture first.”
For Michigan, a good culture looks 
like strong leadership that fosters char-
acter and player development, positive 
communication and trust.
And Klein’s past experiences have 
helped her build that culture into her 
coaching philosophy. As head coach at 
UNLV — where she was the youngest 
head coach in NCAA Division I wom-
en’s soccer — then as assistant coach at 
Washington State followed by associate 
head coach at University of Southern 
California, Klein has developed an ex-
tensive repertoire of coaching experi-
ences to draw from. 
But her strong leadership doesn’t 
just stem from past coaching experienc-
es — it also comes from playing experi-
ence. 
During her time playing soccer 
at Arizona, Klein was team captain for 
two years. This experience has not only 
shaped her knowledge of the game and 
ability to make quick in-game changes, 
but also the way she leads. She is able to 
relate to her players and understand the 
difficulties that come with being both 
athletes and students.
“(It’s about) knowing what they’re 
going through as a student, what they’re 
going through as an athlete, what it feels 
like to play against a rival, what it feels 
like to deal with a tough conversation 
with a teammate,” Klein told The Daily. 
Klein’s various experiences as 
both a player and a coach have benefit-
ed and shaped the Michigan women’s 
soccer program in a way it never has 

before, creating a culture that is founded 
in “character, connection and communi-
cation.” 
It’s a culture Klein has utilized at 
every level, not just as a head coach. 
“She does a really good job of re-
lating with individual players,” Keidane 
McAlpine, Klein’s former colleague at 
USC, told The Daily. “… in communi-
cating with them, learning their little 
stories, meeting them on a very human 
level and just being real, being authen-
tic with the players and I think that too 
gives them a space where they feel very 
comfortable.”
Klein’s ability to be authentically 
herself has created a model for her own 
players to follow. She cares about her 
players as people, not simply athletes. 
This essential characteristic takes center 
stage in Klein’s unique coaching style. 
In a world where players are often seen 
as athletes and employees, Klein has 
intentionally restructured the culture to 
create an environment that is player-cen-
tric. This, in combination with Klein’s 
attention to detail, knowledge of the 
game and competitive spirit has created 
a space for the Wolverines to effectively 
reach their highest potential. 
And the culture has clearly paid off.
In Klein’s fourth season after tak-
ing over the program as head coach, 
Michigan won 18 games in the 2021 sea-
son, tying their previous record.
“I think how she motivates a 
group,” assistant coach Tori Christ told 
The Daily. “And I think how, when she 
says something … she empowers people 
to take it upon themselves and like make 
it their own, whether it’s their role on the 
field, whether it’s our roles as staff, but I 
think just how she motivates a group is 
incredibly intentional.”
Klein 
motivates 
her 
players 
through leading by example and pro-
viding them with the training and sup-
port they need to succeed. While many 
athlete’s view lifting and conditioning 
as the most challenging part of training, 
Klein does the arduous exercises right 
alongside her players — highlighting her 
personal coaching style and the ability 
to motivate her players. She is able to 
model her own expectations, creating a 
culture that is centered around leading 
by example.
That’s important, especially when 
things are difficult.
This past season, Michigan faced 
a string of conference losses entering 
its game against then – No. 14 Rutgers. 
Ending the half down 2-0 with a win nec-
essary to keep tournament hopes alive, 
the game did not appear to be leaning 
in the Wolverines favor. However, they 
came back out, scored three unanswered 
goals, and ended the game with a victory 

against Rutgers. 
That turnaround came at the hands 
of Klein’s leadership.
“She came into the locker room, 
just like full of positivity and energy and 
she’s just like, do what you want with 
this, this time is yours,” Bridenstine 
said. “You have 45 minutes left to put it 
on the field. … I just think when she can 
stay positive in situations and when she’s 
thrown adversity, it really helps the team 
out.”
Klein’s ability to remain positive 
and composed in the midst of difficult 
situations, while also placing responsi-
bility on each player clearly had an im-
pact on the team as they were able to turn 
a likely loss into an electrifying victory. 
The culture she has built helped pull 
them past mediocrity and into victory. 
Another important aspect of 
Klein’s coaching style is her emphasis 
on having the right mindset. 
“You can be in a low performance 
mindset or a high performance mindset 
and we talk a lot about positive self talk 
and how that can affect your perfor-
mance,” Bridenstine said when recount-
ing a central aspect of Klein’s coaching 
philosophy. “And so even if it’s not your 
best day on the field, if you can maintain 

a positive mindset you’ll remain within 
your high performance.”
Having the right mindset can turn 
a good player into a great player, and it 
can make or break a game. By putting an 
emphasis on mindset, Klein empowers 
her players to make positive changes no 
matter the situation. 
Since arriving at Michigan, Klein 
had set out to rebuild culture, and she’s 
done just that. As with any good leader, 
she listens to her players and is incredi-
bly intentional when it comes to culture 
and its impactful role in the team dynam-
ic.
“First and foremost to building 
(culture) to where it is was listening to 
the current team,” Klein said. “… We 
really take into account the players and 
allowing for them to be contributing 
members to what the culture is going to 
look like.”
By fostering an environment where 
player’s voices are listened to, Klein has 
created a strong foundation built on 
collaborative efforts and trust. With this 
foundation in place, she has been able to 
focus on developing players both on and 
off the field. 
“Training is such a great time 
where we have an opportunity to teach 

players not only just skills to help them 
within our sport, but skills that are going 
to help them in their time once they’re 
done playing soccer,” Klein said. ” And 
so really developing them as people, stu-
dents and athletes.”
When Klein joined Michigan, she 
took over a team with unfamiliar players, 
many of which she had not recruited. 
However, her ability to develop and con-
nect with players helped her transform 
the team into a force to be reckoned with.
“I think my favorite moment is 
when a player’s light bulb comes on,” 
Klein said. “When all of a sudden like 
something that they’ve been working on, 
an area that they’ve been focusing on and 
it clicks and they get it and that to me is 
always such a proud moment as a coach.”
It is clear that Klein genuinely 
cares about her players. This, along with 
her passion for the game and expertise, is 
what ultimately shaped the unique team 
culture she has built for the women’s 
soccer team. 
With the team’s footing now set 
firmly on this culture-centered founda-
tion, there is no doubt it will aid them in 
their upcoming season. 
And that’s possible because Klein 
is at the helm.

How Jen Klein rebuilt Michigan women’s 
soccer culture

ISABELLA VILLACORTA
Daily Sports Writer

ELLIE VICE/Daily

