If you got a phone call asking you to come coach a professional sports team, would you say yes? It was a no-brainer for Bonnie Young, the former head coach of the women’s soccer team at North Central.
Young had been at the helm of the Cardinals program for four years, but when the Chicago Red Stars reached out and began talking about bringing her on as an assistant coach, there was no way she was going to turn them down.
“It wasn’t something that I was expecting or necessarily seeking out, because I was happy [during] my time at North Central,” said Young. “But it was … something that I couldn’t turn down, to have that opportunity to go and coach in a professional organization. The higher levels were something that were like I couldn’t pass up.”
Young is no stranger to the worlds of both collegiate and professional soccer, and has been involved as a player and a coach at multiple levels for over a decade now. After graduating from Penn State, Young was drafted by the New York Power in the 2002 W-USL draft. She played for teams a variety of teams including the New Jersey Wildcats, where she won a championship, and Sky Blue FC before she wound up in Chicago in 2009.
“One of my coaches came out here to be an assistant for the Red Stars, and she kind of brought me with her to [the team]in 2009,” said Young. “So to continue my playing career — I was 29 at the time … and I basically said ‘OK, this is my last shot with my age and everything to be a pro again’ so I moved out here.”
It wasn’t the easiest transition for Young, who’s no stranger to new places — she had trouble remembering the last time she’d stayed in the same place for more than two years. Chicago was a new city, the Red Stars were a new team, and on top of that, Young was getting back into coaching with a local team as well.
“I think it was too many adjustments at the same time: it was a new coach, a new place to live, you don’t have that support system around because I didn’t know anybody either, so all those things made the whole move and transition … just too much,” said Young. “It turned my world upside down for a little bit. But I learned a lot from it.”
After she stopped playing, Young took over as the head coach at North Central in 2012. Her experience working with smaller programs like Monmouth College in New Jersey made the transition to the job seamless. Both schools have the small campus vibe with similar communities and responsibilities that came with the job.
“The athletic department has a great feel to it, everyone kind of helps each other out. Jim and Sue do a great job of creating a community feel throughout the athletic department,” said Young. “I really enjoyed my time there, the conference was awesome, it was a really competitive conference … I think NC is moving in the right direction as far as moving up in the conference.”
After four years with the Cardinals, she’s graduated to the professional ranks, leaving the same year as her first group of freshmen. She thinks her new Red Stars team has the potential to make it far in the National Women’s Soccer League, now in its fourth season.
“I think the talent in the group is huge. It’s one of those situations where the ceiling is as high as they want to set it,”said Young. “We’re an up-and-coming group that’s sort of overlooked at times, but I think we have the talent to do anything that we want to do.”
It’s the same kind of message that Young would send her former North Central team for next year. Though they’ll be battling on the field without her as their coach, she is certain they can reach new heights.
“They have to have ownership of that program. Coaches come and go … but the players have to own the program, and I hope that’s one of the main things they understand,” said Young. “The coach will guide you, but it’s you guys on the field, it’s the players on the field, it’s the player’s program.”
“I’m a North Central soccer fan,” added Young. “I’m going to be keeping tabs on them and hoping for the best.”
Young has always kept her passion for soccer, one of the constants in her life as she’s moved all over the country. She’s not planning on moving again any time soon, not now that she’s got herself firmly planted in the Chicago area; no longer the same overwhelmed 29-year-old veteran that came to the Red Stars in 2009, Young is finally at home.
“I’ve moved a lot just in my life in general… but I know a lot of people in the area now, and Chicago is my home,” said Young. “I’m not going anywhere any time soon.”
