Karyna Figuero grew up in a household where her father made a living throwing a baseball. She gets her kicks with the ball on the ground.

Figuero, Southwestern College’s new women’s soccer head coach, learned to appreciate hardball from her father, a professional baseball player.

“I started playing soccer in New Jersey and we moved a lot because my dad played baseball,” said Figuero. “From there, we moved to Florida and played there until college because we stayed there the longest.”

As a freshman she made the varsity team and was named offensive MVP. Figuero credits high school soccer for helping her learn about discipline, responsibility, and teamwork. After high school Figuero went on to play for Florida Atlantic University.

“I played at a really high level,” said Figuero. “I was so used to playing and starting that it was different for me because I didn’t start. I came off the bench so that was an adjustment for me. I had to learn that it wasn’t about me it was about the team and that helped me a lot to become more humble.”

Figuero and the women’s soccer team had a humble season this fall with a 6-11-2 record, but the new coach expected a year of adjustments. Figuero said the elements are in place for years of successful soccer at SWC.
Lady Jaguars captain Francine Celis said the team has come a long way.

“Coaches really cared about us, its more than just soccer, it’s about getting ahead in school,” she said. “We improved a lot and we showed it. We ended good.”

Players said Figuero did a great job in her first year as a coach and liked that she grew up playing soccer like them.
Figuero said she always loved sports, but in college she realized how important education is. She took an internship with the Houston Astros and the many opportunities that exist working in sports. She began her coaching career in San Diego working with younger girls at a club. Soon enough she was coaching high school soccer and in short order got the job as assistant coach at Grossmont College. After just a year she landed the head coaching job at SWC.

Figuero said she was intrigued to come and coach at one of the nation’s.

“The culture down here, being Hispanic myself, I felt I could really relate to this group in general and I could give them something to look forward to in life,” said Figuero. “Just because we are females doesn’t mean we don’t play sports, we don’t get an education, we stay at home and raise the kids. I want to lead by example.”

Lady Jags learned more than how to score a goal from Figuero.

“She showed us that no matter what you do not just in soccer you just can’t give up,” said freshman midfielder Laura Del Castillo. “It’s about your attitude not so much about what you are doing but who you are as a person.”
Figuero said in seasons to come the team will improve.

“There is a positive, we are going in the direction in which we need,” said Figuero. “It’s going to take a while. It might take a year or two but they are the beginning of it. That is what I am trying to get them to understand. Maybe they won’t be the conference champions, but in four years from now they can say we were the ones that started that.”

Figuero hopes to turn the program around and make it a more desirable place for students to come.

“I hope to draw a lot more talent to the school, and to make them see there is a future here and it’s worth coming here.