Offside in the Bay: 2 the Pitch and Beyond

Offside in the Bay: 2 the Pitch and Beyond

This podcast covers everything soccer, from the grassroots level of youth soccer and recruiting to the excitement of the World Cup. Get ready for in-depth discussions and one-on-one interviews with players, coaches, and the influential figures shaping the soccer world.

Episodes

Jason Sacks on Changing the Culture of Youth Sports

May 21, 2026 • 54 mins
In this episode of Offside in the Bay, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Jason Sacks of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) to discuss youth sports culture, positive coaching, burnout, mental health, and the future of soccer development in America. Guest Jason Sacks has spent nearly 20 years helping coaches, parents, and organizations create healthier sports environments through the Positive Coaching Alliance. Episode...
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From MLS to Equity — Reimagining Youth Soccer with Matt Fondy

May 6, 2026 • 54 mins
Former MLS striker and USL MVP Matt Fondy joins Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban to share his journey from professional soccer to community impact in Oakland. After navigating the highs and lows of a pro career—open tryouts, contracts, releases, and resilience—Matt found a new purpose off the field. Through his nonprofit, Oakland Genesis, he’s working to dismantle the pay-to-play model by providing free access to elite soccer, transp...
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The Winding Path to the Pros with Jordan Jeslova

April 11, 2026 • 48 mins
In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with former professional soccer player Jordan Jeslova to explore a journey that was anything but linear. From falling in love with the game at just three years old to competing at Santa Clara University and reaching the professional level, Jordan’s story is one of passion, resilience, and determination. But it is also shaped by injuries, setbacks, and difficult decisions tha...
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Tommy O'Hare: Getting San Jose Ready for the 2026 World Cup

March 14, 2026 • 27 mins
Offside in the Bay goes behind the scenes of the 2026 World Cup build-up with Tommy O'Hare-1998 U.S. Olympic short track speed skater and a longtime sports-media/technology executive. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan tapped Tommy to lead the city's big-event planning-everything from fan experiences to funding to safety. Tommy breaks down what it takes to create a true ‘fan fest' environment, why community sentiment is often the biggest h...
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Trailblazer: John Harkes on U.S. Soccer's Growth and the Road to 2026

March 13, 2026 • 46 mins
Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban welcome a true pioneer of American soccer: former U.S. Men's National Team captain John Harkes-MLS champion and the first American to play in the English Premier League. John reflects on breaking barriers overseas, the early ‘Wild West' years of the U.S. game, and why patience has always been part of the American soccer story. The conversation spans 1994's lasting impact, why TV and media mattered to ...
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SF Glens: Deep History and a Bright Future with Mike McNeill

March 12, 2026 • 55 mins
Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Mike McNeill, President & GM of the San Francisco Glens' USL League Two and USL W League teams and Executive Director of the Glens Academy. Mike shares how a community club founded in 1961 evolved into one of the Bay Area's most ambitious soccer pipelines-from youth development to pre-pro opportunities. They dig into what it takes to build a true club culture in a crowded youth-soccer la...
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Hi Tech Training And Evaluation With Barry Mccabe

March 11, 2026 • 39 mins
In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban explore the intersection of technology, data, and player development with Barry McCabe, Director at the Copa Soccer Training Center. From his roots playing in Ireland to leading a state-of-the-art facility in Walnut Creek, Barry discusses how objective data is changing the way we identify talent and measure growth in youth soccer. The conversation dives deep into the "pay-to-play" mod...
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Mental Health and Athletes

January 29, 2026 • 40 mins
In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban dive into the often-overlooked mental side of youth and elite sports with Dr. JoAnn Dahlkoetter, a licensed clinical sports psychologist, former elite endurance athlete, and author. From burnout and pressure to confidence, visualization, and mindset, this conversation explores how athletes, parents, and coaches can better support the whole person — not just performance. 🎙 Guest Dr. J...
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Youth Soccer in the U.S. — What’s Working, What’s Broken, and What Comes Next

January 21, 2026 • 54 mins
In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Andrew Donnery, CEO of Elk Grove Soccer to break down the realities of youth soccer in the United States. From pay-to-play pressure and coaching quality to access, affordability, and the impact of the 2026 World Cup, Andrew offers candid insight into what’s working, what’s broken, and how the system could evolve. Key Topics: - Is the U.S. youth soccer system working? -...
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World Cup Draw and More with Kelly Gray

December 16, 2025 • 41 mins
The 2026 World Cup draw is out — and now comes the analysis, overanalysis, and excitement. Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban are joined by former MLS midfielder youth sports executive Kelly Gray to break down what the draw means for the U.S., the Bay Area, and the future of soccer in America. From expectations for the U.S. Men’s National Team to the global stars, underdog stories, and the long-term impact of hosting the World Cup, this...
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Adam Cooper – Head Coach, St. Mary’s College Men’s Soccer

December 9, 2025 • 51 mins
In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Adam Cooper, one of the most successful college soccer coaches in the country and the longtime architect of the powerhouse program at St. Mary’s College.  Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Episode 17 02:05 – Falling in Love With Soccer 05:42 – The Youth Soccer Landscape Then vs. Now 09:10 – Getting Noticed by UCLA 12:45 – The Jump to High-Level College Soccer 16:28 – B...
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A Pro at 16: San Jose Earthquakes’ Niko Tsakiris

November 18, 2025 • 38 mins
What’s it really like to go from youth soccer to the pros at just 16 years old? In this episode, Bay Area native Niko Tsakiris joins Claudine and Alex to talk about his incredible journey from kicking a ball around his backyard to wearing the Earthquakes jersey and representing the U.S. on the world stage. Niko shares what it’s like growing up in a soccer family, the mental challenges of turning pro as a teenager, and how he balanc...
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Director of Analytics, Mustang Soccer Club, Dana Taylor

November 1, 2025 • 51 mins
Analytics has officially entered the pitch — and at Mustang Soccer Club, it’s changing everything. In this episode, hosts Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Dana Taylor, Director of Analytics at Mustang, to explore how data and technology are transforming youth soccer from the inside out. Taylor, a longtime collegiate and club coach, shares how Mustang has built one of the most advanced youth analytics programs in the cou...
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39 years with Santa Clara Women's Soccer Head Coach Jerry Smith

October 31, 2025 • 52 mins
In this episode of "Offside in the Bay" Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban as kick off the college season with a deep dive into the roots and future of soccer. This week, they welcome Jerry Smith, the legendary head coach of Santa Clara University women's soccer. With over 500 career wins, two national championships, and a legacy of developing professional and international players, Coach Smith offers invaluable insight. They explore hi...
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Sarina Bolden – Philippines Women’s National Team Forward

October 4, 2025 • 45 mins
In this episode, Claudine Wong and co-host @thealexlobban sit down with Sarina Bolden, the Bay Area–born striker who made history for the Philippines by scoring the country’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup goal. From her youth soccer days in Milpitas to representing her heritage on the world stage, Sarina shares her journey of resilience, family influence, and chasing dreams across continents. She opens up about navigating burn...
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Building Soccer Community with Town FC

September 19, 2025 • 40 mins
Episode Summary What does it take to build a professional soccer club from the ground up—and make it matter to the community it serves? In this episode of Offside in the Bay: To the Pitch and Beyond, Claudine and Alex sit down with Tennyson Wilson, co-founder of Town FC, the Bay Area’s MLS Next Pro affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes.From youth academies to the pro pathway, Town FC is working to create opportunities for players,...
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Soccer Fandom with Steve Powell

September 10, 2025 • 40 mins
Hosts: Claudine Wong & Alex Lobban Guest: Steve Powell Vice President, For Soccer; former executive with Oakland Roots, Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes) This week, Claudine and Alex sit down with longtime soccer executive Steve Powell to dig into the evolving world of soccer fandom in the U.S. Steve has spent decades shaping the sport from the inside — from MLS beginnings to grassroots development — and now helps brands and ...
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From Scotland to the Bay: What separates good players from great?

August 22, 2025 • 35 mins
In this episode of Offside in the Bay: To the Pitch and Beyond, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Ben Maxwell, owner and coaching director at Player One Performance. From his beginnings in Scotland to leading supplemental training in Northern California, Ben shares insights on youth development, the U.S. soccer landscape, and what separates good players, coaches, and programs from great ones. His story is a journey of pas...
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From West Virginia to the Bay: Cailin Mullins on Why Junior College Soccer Deserves a Second Look

August 15, 2025 • 40 mins
In this episode of Offside in the Bay: To the Pitch and Beyond, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Cailin Mullins, head women’s soccer coach at Diablo Valley College. From her unlikely start as a young girl playing on boys’ teams in West Virginia, to competing in the ACC against legends like Mia Hamm, to coaching at Stanford and ultimately leading a junior college program, Cailin shares insights on resilience, opportunity,...
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Whispering Talents Versus Shouting Talent: How Jordan Ferrell Finds Talent Around Him

August 9, 2025 • 50 mins
Episode Summary:In this episode, we sit down with Jordan Ferrell, Technical Director for the Oakland Roots Sports Club, to explore how he spots soccer talent in a diverse and competitive landscape. Jordan breaks down his unique approach to scouting—distinguishing between the obvious “shouting talents” and the often overlooked “whispering talents.” From youth academies to professional transitions, he shares insights on player develo...
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