Jessica Nei is entering her fourth season as an assistant coach on the Arkansas State soccer coaching staff.
Under Nei’s direction, the Red Wolves have enjoyed one some of the best goalkeeping in the Sun Belt Conference over the past three years. The team ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference with 112 saves. In 2012 the A-State goalkeepers had a 1.38 goals against average, which was the second lowest average in school history.
The squad also won the most games in school history in 2012 and posted the best winning percentage in the A-State soccer program’s history. Over the last two years, the Red Wolves have won 21 games the most in any two-year span in the program history.
Individually, Nei helped coach Aja Aguirre into one of the most successful goalkeepers in A-State history in terms of a single season. Aguirre is tied for the fifth on the all-time list for the fewest goals allowed in a season and holds the record for the lowest goals against average at 1.19, which she set in 2012.
In 2013, Nei coached helped Amanda Lee record the third most saves in school history with 92, and the third lowest goals against average at 1.34. She played the second-highest minutes in goal in school history (1480:27) and tied the school record for most wins by goalkeeper at with eight. Her 8.07 saves per game were tied for the most in school history.
Since joining the Red Wolves, Nei has been apart of one of the most successful stretches in the history of the A-State soccer program. In the last two seasons the team has combined to win 18 games and has made back-to-back appearances in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.
Nei came to A-State with three years of previous coaching experience at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. During her three seasons with St. Cloud she helped them to a 28-21-8 record including two seasons with 10-wins and the first winning conference record in school history and the first winning record in school history.
Along with serving as an assistant with St. Cloud, Nei was an Olympic Development Program coach instructing the 97-99 boys and goalkeepers. She was also a coach at Becker Youth soccer working with U10 boys, U14 and U17 girls.
Nei also as a coach with the Red River Soccer Club coaching U10 boys and as a goalkeeper coach for U10 girls and as the head coach for the Central Minnesota Youth Soccer Association in St. Cloud.
Nei played goalkeeper for North Dakota State University and amassed a 51-33-6 record including posting 11 wins or more in four out of her five seasons with the Bison. She played high school soccer for St Cloud Apollo and is the only daughter of Rob and Joan Nei.
