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Adrienne Sorenson has been the head women's soccer coach at San Joaquin Delta College since 2010. In her time there, she has coached her team to the postseason every year for the past 12 years. She has recently led her team to back-to-back championship wins where they have been the #1 seed in the Big 8 conference. Coach Adrienne is known for her 90% success rate in getting college athletes to the next level and transferring them to D1, D2, and NAIA programs. We recently spoke with her about the day-to-day at Delta and how they prepare for the season each year. 

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The Build-Up 

Before Coach Adrienne took over the team at Delta, the program was not as successful, but what helped her build the program up was being honest and transparent with her players. During the recruiting process out of high school, she makes sure players genuinely want to be there to compete and get better to transfer to the next level. They thrive on competition at practice. She said her main goal as a coach is to “build strong women that can tackle anything in their lives.”

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According to Coach Adrienne, recruits need to have both the mental and athletic profile she looks for, and she's found that upping your game is a two-way street–now her team challenges her to be the best version of herself. She has players that have the mentality of wanting more from her constantly, which helps them achieve consistent individual growth to be better competitors for their teammates.

The Preparation 

Coach Adrienne expressed that it is difficult to win the Big 8 conference and make it to the top 4. To prepare for the upcoming season each year, her athletes train four days a week all summer. She would describe this period as an “important time to build a foundation with the freshman and the sophomores together.” Each week, they cover different topics and skills needed for success throughout the season. 

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On the first day of practice, the first statement made to all players is to “check your ego at the door.” Their program is unlike any other–they have a roster with D1 and D2 players that will go to the next level. Some players have the mindset that since it is a junior college, it's not as serious as a four-year university but at Delta, they work just as hard, if not harder, than many university programs. Each day they focus on showing up and winning. It is not about the long-term, their current rankings, or what the playoff brackets might look like–instead, they focus on growing each day and break down every drill for the players so they learn as much as they can. The staff and players all have a common goal so the environment is more cohesive.

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Don't Look Down on JUCO 

The environment at Delta is “all about challenging yourself at the highest possible level that you can to get ready for the next level and dominate.” At most junior colleges, you will take the same courses your first two years at a four-year so if you are looking for a better financial fit, consider  looking into different junior programs. The amount of attention the freshmen and sophomores get at Delta is usually more in comparison to a university. However, the crucial thing to remember is to look into any school you are interested in, as not all programs are as advanced as San Joaquin Delta College. 

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A Piece of Advice 

The most significant advice Coach Adrienne has for players in the recruiting process is to do your research. Not all programs, especially at the junior college level are created equal so make sure you look into their records and see if they accomplish what they say they do. If you are looking at a junior college, see how many athletes transfer to the next level. Find out if players have positive experiences in their program and if the environment is authentic. Players also need to be proactive during the recruiting process so make sure you have a video of your games to email clips with your schedule to different schools you want to come to look at you. The best time to start this process is in your sophomore and junior year. 

Do not assume coaches will find you. Put in the work to be noticed. You have to make things happen for yourself if you want it badly enough. 

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Image Credit: Recordnet.com

* Originally published on January 16, 2023, by Daesha Harper