Off The Pitch: Jamila Coner
July 19, 2016 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – During the summer, HailState.com will interview select Mississippi State soccer players in an effort to learn more about their lives on and off the pitch. Dallas, Texas, native Jamila Coner is next on our list as we sit down with the rising senior.
For more information on Coner or any other member of the Bulldog soccer team, follow the program on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at "HailStateSOC."
Jamila Coner Q&A
Q: Why did you start playing soccer?
A: "My father's fraternity brother is the one who got me into the sport. He pushed my dad to allow me to play soccer. I started playing when I was around three. Of course I was picking flowers when I started, but soccer just kind of stuck with me. I played other sports as well, but soccer was what I really liked to do. I enjoy it a lot."
Q: What led you to Mississippi State?
A: "I moved from Texas to Florida during high school, and because of that some of the Texas schools I was looking at lost interest in me. I was kind of lost during that time, because my dream was to play collegiate soccer. So, when all the Texas schools dropped out I thought my plans weren't meant to be. I was preparing to be just a normal college student, but I didn't give up. I emailed some of my old coaches and one referred me to coach Aaron Gordon and told me to look there because he was a good coach and MSU had a great program. That day I talked to coach Gordon and we scheduled my official visit, it happened all so fast, and it was crazy. I was the last recruit to sign; it was such a blessing and I cried because of how happy I was to fulfill my dream of playing college soccer. I am very proud to be in the position I am now."
Q: You have a lot of family connections to New Orleans, were any of them affected by Hurricane Katrina?
A: "We had several family members that were living in New Orleans when the hurricane hit. Since we lived in Texas, we had about 20 people in our house who were displaced from the damage. We had people on the couch, the floor, everywhere. It as crazy, but they were family so you have to be there for them in tough times."
Q: What advice would you give to future soccer players?
A: "Just stick to it. There are going to be times when you don't feel like doing anything, but you just have to stick to your guns. Even on the tough days, work hard and make sure you love it through it all. If you do not love it, you're not going to work hard for it."
Q: You're a senior this year, what message do you have for all of your teammates?
A: "I am very proud of them. I love them; I love the sisterhood that we have and the fun times we have. I know that I can go to any single one of them if I had a problem. I know that they are my soccer sisters, throughout my entire career, I can always count on them."
Quick Hitters
Fact no one knows about her: She used to be a cheerleader
Favorite professional team: New Orleans Saints
Favorite band: *NSYNC
Favorite moment from 2015: The 2-1 win at Arkansas
Biggest pet peeve: Smacking
Special talent: Sleeping
Goal for her senior year: Get all A's her last two semesters
Goals after college: Get into PA school and travel to Italy
Three words teammates use to describe her: Reserved, kind-hearted, friendly
For more information on Coner or any other member of the Bulldog soccer team, follow the program on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at "HailStateSOC."
Jamila Coner Q&A
Q: Why did you start playing soccer?
A: "My father's fraternity brother is the one who got me into the sport. He pushed my dad to allow me to play soccer. I started playing when I was around three. Of course I was picking flowers when I started, but soccer just kind of stuck with me. I played other sports as well, but soccer was what I really liked to do. I enjoy it a lot."
Q: What led you to Mississippi State?
A: "I moved from Texas to Florida during high school, and because of that some of the Texas schools I was looking at lost interest in me. I was kind of lost during that time, because my dream was to play collegiate soccer. So, when all the Texas schools dropped out I thought my plans weren't meant to be. I was preparing to be just a normal college student, but I didn't give up. I emailed some of my old coaches and one referred me to coach Aaron Gordon and told me to look there because he was a good coach and MSU had a great program. That day I talked to coach Gordon and we scheduled my official visit, it happened all so fast, and it was crazy. I was the last recruit to sign; it was such a blessing and I cried because of how happy I was to fulfill my dream of playing college soccer. I am very proud to be in the position I am now."
Q: You have a lot of family connections to New Orleans, were any of them affected by Hurricane Katrina?
A: "We had several family members that were living in New Orleans when the hurricane hit. Since we lived in Texas, we had about 20 people in our house who were displaced from the damage. We had people on the couch, the floor, everywhere. It as crazy, but they were family so you have to be there for them in tough times."
Q: What advice would you give to future soccer players?
A: "Just stick to it. There are going to be times when you don't feel like doing anything, but you just have to stick to your guns. Even on the tough days, work hard and make sure you love it through it all. If you do not love it, you're not going to work hard for it."
Q: You're a senior this year, what message do you have for all of your teammates?
A: "I am very proud of them. I love them; I love the sisterhood that we have and the fun times we have. I know that I can go to any single one of them if I had a problem. I know that they are my soccer sisters, throughout my entire career, I can always count on them."
Quick Hitters
Fact no one knows about her: She used to be a cheerleader
Favorite professional team: New Orleans Saints
Favorite band: *NSYNC
Favorite moment from 2015: The 2-1 win at Arkansas
Biggest pet peeve: Smacking
Special talent: Sleeping
Goal for her senior year: Get all A's her last two semesters
Goals after college: Get into PA school and travel to Italy
Three words teammates use to describe her: Reserved, kind-hearted, friendly
Players Mentioned
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