Nathan Jones is Associate Head Coach at Old Dominion University (ODU) Norfolk, Virginia. He graduated from Urbana University, Ohio, with a degree in Sports Management in 2016 and an MBA from Tiffin University in 2019. Nathan came through the Tranmere Rovers academy as a goalkeeper. You can find Nathan on LinkedIn.
I went through the Tranmere Rovers academy then when I wasn’t offered a senior contract, I decided to pursue college football in the States. That was 2013 and I went to Urbana University, in Ohio. A lot of British lads seem to come out around that time; now there’s thousands out here playing in college soccer. I played four years of college soccer – sorry, football – and moved into coaching. I am now on the staff at ODU, in Virginia.
I’ve kinda come full circle because I have three or four guys I’m now coaching, who also had the disappointment of not getting professional contracts in English football and have chosen to come out to the States.
I played for four years at Urbana University in Ohio, and then I took a graduate assistant position at Tiffin University, also in Ohio. It’s a unique position where you go and coach for a university, but they pay for your Masters at the same time. If you had told 18-year-old me I’d have a degree and an MBA at the age of 23, that I didn’t pay a penny for, I think I would have laughed at you!
I then got a full-time job here at Old Dominion, and I’ve been here five years. I’m assistant coach and I also manage our recruitment. Back at Tranmere, aged 16 I started coaching the youth goalkeepers in the Academy, and I loved it. I was lucky, at Tranmere they were keen for the older scholars to get involved with the with the youth Academy, and it whet my appetite. I’ve loved it ever since – and I always knew coaching was an option for me, as a 6-foot goalkeeper I was going to struggle trying to get a professional contract.
The US soccer scene has changed a lot in the 10, 11 years I’ve been here. The leap and growth of the game over here is huge – even Lionel Messi plays in the US, which has taken it to another level. The game is growing rapidly over here and it’s becoming one of the one of the most watched sports in the country.
College soccer, I think, catches a lot of guys out when they come initially come over. They think, ‘the level’s not gonna be that high’. But it’s so competitive. And the facilities in this country are world class everywhere, everywhere you go.
Our soccer complex has a game field, a practice field, my offices, the changing rooms, the weight room, the physical therapy room. Everything’s in-house, and it’s as professional as they come. That’s one thing I think is so unique about the States is the general level of facilities. Compared to certain clubs back home, it’s probably higher over here.
For other footballers released at 18, as I was, my advice would be to take the leap. Be open to a different country, different culture and different way of life; because I think for me it was the best decision that I ever made. There are two benefits: it broadens your horizons, and it’s a route back into professional football.
There are three – technically four – professional leagues in the US, and there’s a lot of British players that are now coming over and then going into the pro game in the States, and it’s just another opportunity rather than the grind of British football, which can feel at times like it turns you over then spits you out, and you have to deal with it. And I think a lot of guys find it refreshing coming out here.
I always tell the students that I recruit that there’s always more to football. There’s the off-the-pitch life piece of it, getting away for the four years, doing something different; and rejuvenating yourself.
Interested in finding out about studying in the US collegiate system? Talk to our friends at Varsity Nine, who have a track record in helping talented footballers pursue their dreams in the US.