Janine Szpara

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Janine Szpara

| image = Janine Szpara 2023 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Szpara in 2023

| height = {{Height|ft=5|in=7}}

| full_name = Janine Marie Szpara{{cite web |url=https://digitalccbeta.coloradocollege.edu/pid/coccc:10319/datastream/OBJ |title=108th Annual Commencement |website=Colorado College |format=PDF |page=7 |date=May 15, 1989 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827130812/https://digitalccbeta.coloradocollege.edu/pid/coccc:10319/datastream/OBJ |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|1|11}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| position = Goalkeeper

| collegeyears1 = 1985–1988

| college1 = Colorado College Tigers

| collegecaps1 = 78

| collegegoals1 = 0

| years1 = 1995–199?

| clubs1 = Shiroki FC Serena

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 199?–1999

| clubs2 = Takarazuka Bunnys Ladies SC

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1997

| clubs3 = Norcal Shockwaves

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2000

| clubs4 = Foothill FC

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 = 2001

| clubs5 = Bay Area CyberRays

| caps5 = 1

| goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1986–1987

| nationalteam1 = United States

| nationalcaps1 = 6

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1989–1990

| managerclubs1 = Stanford Cardinal (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 1990–1992

| managerclubs2 = California Golden Bears (assistant)

| manageryears3 =

| managerclubs3 = Shiroki FC Serena (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2000

| managerclubs4 = Cornell Big Red (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2002

| managerclubs5 = Santa Clara Broncos (assistant)

| manageryears6 = 2003

| managerclubs6 = San Jose State Spartans (assistant)

| manageryears7 = 2004–2006

| managerclubs7 = Warner Pacific Knights (associate HC)

| manageryears8 = 2004–2010

| managerclubs8 = Tualatin Hills United SC

| manageryears9 = 2008–2011

| managerclubs9 = Portland State Vikings (assistant)

| manageryears10 = 2011–2012

| managerclubs10 = Portland Rain

| manageryears11 = 2011–

| managerclubs11 = Clackamas Cougars

| manageryears12 = 2014–

| managerclubs12 = Portland Thorns Academy

| manageryears13 = 2016–

| managerclubs13 = FC Mulhouse Portland

| manageryears14 = 2018

| managerclubs14 = St. Mary's Blues (assistant)

| manageryears15 = 2018

| managerclubs15 = St. Mary's Blues JV

}}

Janine Marie Szpara (born January 11, 1967) is an American former soccer player and coach who played as a goalkeeper, making six appearances for the United States women's national team.

Career

In college, Szpara played for the Colorado College Tigers from 1985 to 1988, with the team's best result in 1986 as NCAA runners-up. She was selected as an NSCAA First-Team All-American in all four seasons, and in 1988 was the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_soccer_RB/2019/Awards.pdf |title=Women's Soccer Awards |website=National Collegiate Athletic Association |format=PDF |year=2019 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827130936/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_soccer_RB/2019/Awards.pdf |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} She was also included in the Senior Recognition Team in 1988. In total, she made 78 appearances for the Tigers. She holds the record for the most shutouts at the school, with 46 during her career, along with the best save percentage and fewest average goals conceded.{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/cctigers.com/documents/2016/9/9/2016WSOCMedia_Guide.pdf |title=2016 Colorado College Women's Soccer Media Guide |publisher=Colorado College Tigers |format=PDF |year=2016 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827131057/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/cctigers.com/documents/2016/9/9/2016WSOCMedia_Guide.pdf |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}

Szpara made her international debut for the United States on July 20, 1986 in the Mundialito against China PR. In total, she made six appearances for the U.S., earning her final cap on July 11, 1987 in the 1987 North America Cup against Norway.{{cite web |url=https://d1dhn91mufybwl.cloudfront.net/downloads/pdfs/fdxnf1dwi/fdxnf1dwi_print.pdf |title=2019 U.S. Women's National Team Media Guide |website=United States Soccer Federation |format=PDF |year=2019 |access-date=August 18, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808074101/https://d1dhn91mufybwl.cloudfront.net/downloads/pdfs/fdxnf1dwi/fdxnf1dwi_print.pdf |archive-date=August 8, 2019}}

In club soccer, Szpara played for Shiroki FC Serena and Takarazuka Bunnys Ladies SC in Japan from 1995 to 1999, and was selected to the league's All-Star Team in 1998. She also played in the WPSL for the Norcal Shockwaves in 1997 and Foothill FC in 2001. She played for the Bay Area CyberRays during the 2001 WUSA season, replacing the injured Jen Mead,{{cite news |url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/10863/wusa-notes-chastain-suspended-fawcett-has-anothe.html |title=WUSA Notes: Chastain suspended, Fawcett has another girl |website=Soccer America |date=June 5, 2001 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827132041/https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/10863/wusa-notes-chastain-suspended-fawcett-has-anothe.html |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} with the team ultimately winning the WUSA championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.fearlesssoccer.com/staffjanine.html |title=The Fearless Soccer Staff: Janine Szpara |website=Fearless Soccer |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827132254/http://www.fearlesssoccer.com/staffjanine.html |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} She made one appearance for the CyberRays during the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/womenssoccer/stats/p-szparjan001 |title=Janine Szpara |website=Stats Crew |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827132342/https://www.statscrew.com/womenssoccer/stats/p-szparjan001 |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}

Szpara later began to work as a coach, holding a U.S. Soccer 'A' license and primarily focusing on goalkeeper training.{{cite web |url=https://goviks.com/coaches.aspx?rc=28 |title=Janine Szpara |website=Portland State Vikings |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827132503/https://goviks.com/coaches.aspx?rc=28 |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} She worked as an assistant for the Stanford Cardinal from 1989 to 1999 and the California Golden Bears in 1992. While playing in Japan, she also began to coach at Shiroki FC Serena. After returning to the U.S., she worked as an assistant for the Cornell Big Red in 2000, Santa Clara Broncos in 2002, San Jose State Spartans in 2003, and Warner Pacific Knights as an associate head coach from 2004 to 2006. From 2008 to 2011, she worked as an assistant for the Portland State Vikings, before becoming the head coach of the Portland Rain club team, where she remained until 2012,{{cite news |url=https://sandiaadvertising.com/category/features/ |title=Bernard Sandoval Named to Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 |website=Sandia Marketing and Advertising |date=May 31, 2017 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827132658/https://sandiaadvertising.com/category/features/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} and Clackamas Cougars collegiate team in 2011.{{cite news |location=Oregon City, Oregon |url=http://www.nwaacc.org/blog/?p=3630 |title=Szpara to take reins of Clackamas Soccer |website=Northwest Athletic Conference |date=March 10, 2011 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827132900/http://www.nwaacc.org/blog/?p=3630 |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://coloradospringssports.org/files/HOF/Bios/szpara_-_FINAL(1).pdf |title=Janine Szpara |website=Colorado Springs Sports |format=PDF |year=2017 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190827133105/https://coloradospringssports.org/files/HOF/Bios/szpara_-_FINAL(1).pdf |archive-date=August 27, 2019 }} In 2018, Szpara coached at St. Mary's Academy in Portland, Oregon, working as the assistant for the varsity team and head coach of the junior varsity team.{{cite news |url=https://www.stmaryspdx.org/sma-community/parent-association/pa-posts/~board/parent-association-news/post/go-blues-2018-fall-sports-set-to-launch |title=Go Blues! 2018 Fall Sports Set to Launch |website=St. Mary's Academy |year=2018 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190822173413/https://www.stmaryspdx.org/sma-community/parent-association/pa-posts/~board/parent-association-news/post/go-blues-2018-fall-sports-set-to-launch |archive-date=August 22, 2019 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.stmaryspdx.org/uploaded/documents/Athletics/2018-2019/oct27playoffrosters.pdf |title=2018 Soccer State Championships |website=St. Mary's Academy |format=PDF |year=2018 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827133405/https://www.stmaryspdx.org/uploaded/documents/Athletics/2018-2019/oct27playoffrosters.pdf |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} In youth soccer, she worked as a coach for the Olympic Development Program in California from 1989 to 1992, and in Oregon from 2006 to 2017. She was the coordinator for the Cornell Youth Camp from 2002 to 2004, and worked at Oregon Youth Soccer as well as Tualatin Hills United Soccer Club, where she was an assistant director and the coach of various boys' youth teams. She has also worked in various roles at the youth clubs Portland Spartans FC/FC Mulhouse Portland and Portland Thorns Academy.{{cite news |url=http://www.spartansfutbolclub.com/spartans-fc-welcomes-janine-szpara-as-new-girls-academy-director/ |title=Spartans FC welcomes Janine Szpara as new Girls Academy Director |website=FC Mulhouse Portland |date=April 26, 2016 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827133529/http://www.spartansfutbolclub.com/spartans-fc-welcomes-janine-szpara-as-new-girls-academy-director/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://isnsoccer.com/portland-spartans-fc-rebrands-as-fc-mulhouse-portland/ |title=Portland Spartans FC Rebrands as FC Mulhouse Portland |website=International Soccer Network |date=February 20, 2017 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827133653/https://isnsoccer.com/portland-spartans-fc-rebrands-as-fc-mulhouse-portland/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}

Szpara has traveled to coach youth soccer as a sports envoy for the U.S. State Department,{{cite web |url=https://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/initiatives/sports-diplomacy/sports-envoys-and-sports-visitors/sports-and |title=Sports and Public Diplomacy Envoys 2005–2017 |website=Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs |access-date=August 26, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826074456/https://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/initiatives/sports-diplomacy/sports-envoys-and-sports-visitors/sports-and |archive-date=August 26, 2019}} having led clinics in Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, and Vietnam.{{cite news |url=https://www.womenssoccerunited.com/ussingapore-soccer-exchange-programme/ |title=US/Singapore Soccer Exchange Programme |website=Womens Soccer United |date=December 8, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827133845/https://www.womenssoccerunited.com/ussingapore-soccer-exchange-programme/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://gt.usembassy.gov/janine-sparza-importance-sports-education-sports-diplomacy-2/ |title=Janine Sparza: The Importance of Sports and Education (Sports Diplomacy) |website=U.S. Embassy in Guatemala |date=August 13, 2017 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134033/https://gt.usembassy.gov/janine-sparza-importance-sports-education-sports-diplomacy-2/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.theintlcenter.org/Sports/Malaysia%20America%20Summary%20-%20Final.pdf |title=Malaysia America Soccer Exchange Program |website=The International Center |format=PDF |year=2009 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134208/http://www.theintlcenter.org/Sports/Malaysia%20America%20Summary%20-%20Final.pdf |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Sophia |first=Kate |url=https://fiftyfive.one/2016/07/katie-bethke-selected-as-sports-envoy-she-wins-mexico/ |title=Katie Bethke Selected as Sports Envoy to Support She Wins Mexico |website=FiftyFive.One |date=July 13, 2016 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727154150/https://fiftyfive.one/2016/07/katie-bethke-selected-as-sports-envoy-she-wins-mexico/ |archive-date=July 27, 2020}} [https://megalodon.jp/2019-0827-2244-32/https://fiftyfive.one:443/2016/07/katie-bethke-selected-as-sports-envoy-she-wins-mexico/ Alt URL]{{cite news |url=https://cctigers.com/news/2011/1/12/WSOC_0112114301.aspx?path=WSOC |title=Former CC standouts still making a difference |website=Colorado College Tigers |date=January 12, 2011 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134559/https://cctigers.com/news/2011/1/12/WSOC_0112114301.aspx?path=WSOC |archive-date=August 27, 2019}}

Szpara was inducted into the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. She was also inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member of the 1986 women's soccer team. In 2017, she was inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Though born in Chicago,{{cite news |url=http://www.wusa.com/players/szp059326.html |title=Janine Szpara |work=Women's United Soccer Association |access-date=June 19, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011007091821/http://www.wusa.com/players/szp059326.html |archive-date=October 7, 2001}} Szpara grew up in San Jose, California, and attended Valley Christian High School.{{cite news |last=Anschutz |first=Chuck |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/400343424/ |title=Young Soccer Players Learn From the Best While Attending Camp at Kennesaw State |newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution |via=Newspapers.com |page=G20 |date=August 18, 1988 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134633/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/400343424/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from Colorado College in 1989.