phone: (559) 250-6972 / email address: jparis@communitymedical.org
I have had a passion for soccer all my life and started playing in Sweden growing up. I entered my first competitive soccer club at
the age of 16 which lead into a professional level at the age of 22. I played in the 2 division for a team called Vastra Frolunda IF
1982 (3rd in the League) and 1983 (9th in the League). Prior to that, I played 4 years in the 3rd Division (Hovas IF).
In 1984 I moved to Oxford England to study English and I tried out for Oxford City. I played a few practice games and it went
well so they offered me a contract. Due to my former Swedish team not releasing me OxfordCity could not sign me. A few months
later I moved to California and was recruited to a San Fransisco team called the Greek Americans AC. This team turned out to be
one of the best teams in the US at that time. The first season with the Greeks I was the high scorer on the team as we won the
Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in1985.
My soccer playing career continued in Fresno as I played with the Fresno Internationals, we won 6 out of 8 Premiere league titles
in the late 80ies and early 90ies.
My coaching career has spanned over 20 years starting back in Sweden coaching both boys and girls teams from U10, U12, U14,
Boys JV high school team, several girls All Star teams, premier Men’s league team in Fresno, and Olympic Development Program
(ODP) teams from district 7. This summer I am also part of the ODP coaching staff for the 96 (U14) Boys State Team for Northern
California.
In 1985 I was offered an assistant coaching position for San Jose State Men’s team (by head coach Julie Menendez) but had to
decline due to moving to The Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to play for the US National Team Handball Team.
(That is a different story!).
I have had the great fortune to have been coached by very good coaches that have focused on fundamentals, and best of all,
I have been coached by 2 National Team coaches; Olle Nordin Sweden, while playing for Vastra Frolunda, and Lothar Osiander
USA while playing for the Greek Americans.
I currently hold a National ‘D’ license and an ACF Fiorentina Advanced Coaching Level. 2010 is my second year with Odyssey
soccer club and I am looking forward to developing my coaching skills working alongside so many great coaches!
