10 Questions With Jamie Clark

CARY, N.C. – When the NCAA men's soccer tournament started the Thursday before Thanksgiving, 48 coaches had their teams in contention for a championship.

Washington's Jamie Clark was one of them.

When it resumed the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 16 coaches still had their teams in contention.

Jamie Clark was one of them.

Now that it's two weeks before Christmas, just four coaches and teams still have that coveted title in sight.

Jamie Clark is one of them.

For the second time in five seasons, Clark's Huskies are in the College Cup. Back in 2021, they played in Cary, North Carolina, and went all the way to the final.

This weekend, they're back in Cary, hoping for another trip to the ultimate last game of the season. But first is the semifinal round. Washington will kick off on Friday against Furman at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time on the pitch at WakeMed Soccer Park. A victory in that one would put Washington into Monday's championship contest against winner of Friday's North Carolina State-Saint Louis semifinal.

For the 49-year-old Clark, this is his third coaching trip to the College Cup. Along with the 2021 and now the 2025 Huskies, Clark helped guide New Mexico all the way to the 2005 title match when he was an assistant coach with the Lobos.

"Every team, you're hopeful for; every team you believe in. I've never had a team that hasn't put in the work," Clark said of his 15-year stretch at UW. "There's always a hope. The reality is that it's very difficult to get this far."

In a telephone conversation from Cary, Clark talked about this year's team, the road to the College Cup, and some aspects of his own personal coaching journey.

1.At the beginning of the season, did you look at this team and see a College Cup contender?
"After two weeks (and a 1-2-2 start), I'd have probably said no. But we said from the very beginning, this has the ability to make us better. There was some soul searching and figuring out some stuff. Five games in, we had one win. So we asked, 'What do we need to do better?' Then we rattled off six straight wins. We grew in belief.

"Then weirdly enough, we end up on that three-game skid (right before the NCAA Tournament) and asked ourselves again, 'Can we identify a few things when we went on that six-game run after that one period?' We identified the fact that we had to go on a six-game run again to win the national championship."

2. Was there a particular game during the season when you went home thinking that getting this far just might be possible?
"There are a lot of moments along the way. I truly believe that it isn't built in one game. There are certain ones that let you take a bigger step forward than others. The Indiana game (a 3-0 UW victory) was fun because you don't often walk out of that game up a few goals. I thought, 'If we can do that, maybe we can beat the top teams.' In the Seattle U game, we went down two goals (in the first 24 minutes before coming back to win, 7-2). There are different pieces to build your character."

3. Your first four NCAA games have been on the road and you've overcome some adversity along the way. What does that tell you about this particular group of guys?
"Sometimes you have to question whether each road trip was the last one. Is it going to be too much? Is it a bridge too far? But it never felt like that. Each road trip brought new energy, a new location, new excitement The guys never seemed to tire; we were better in the second half. Every game, the energy levels and the drive have shown over 90 minutes. At the beginning of the tournament, we had one of the hardest draws. But it was just play each game. We have to win two more games. But it's all about Friday (in the semifinals). Monday doesn't matter if Friday doesn't happen."

4. Your team doesn't have anyone with double-digit goals but is still tied for No. 5 nationally in goals scored with 45. There are 15 players who have scored at least one goal, 10 who have scored at least two, and six different goal scorers in four NCAA games. Talk about that balanced attack.
"We definitely believe that goals are going to come from our front four more than anyone – Charlie (Kosakoff), Zach (Ramsey) and Alex (Hall), and then Richie Aman will be involved in the goals (either scoring or assisting). But the beautiful thing is you have a Connor Lofy getting us through a couple of rounds (late equalizer at Oregon State, game-winner at Southern Methodist). Our defenders are due for a couple of goals – they've been knocking on the door with some set pieces. And Osato (Enabulele) is an emerging freshman (scored the equalizer at Maryland last week).

"The biggest thing in scouting us is if want to take away the left wing, we'll just go down the right wing."

5. Is there a player or two who has gone above and beyond your expectations and had a breakout season?
"They're all just playing at a high level. The beauty is they're all taking turns and having big moments. We have a lot of weapons, a lot of guys, We have to make sure someone steps up on Friday. We don't know which one or two it will be, but they can all do it."

6. What is the X-factor that has helped make this season so successful?
"This team is particularly close. It's a very diverse group of personalities, but they all blend well together. We have solemn and serious guys, and they're sitting next to the loud characters on the team. They all balance each other out. If you come to any team meal, you won't see the same six guys at a table twice in a row."

7. How does this team compare to the 2021 College Cup team – what is similar, what is different?
"Both teams had to earn their way. That (2021) team won from Day 1 (a 12-0-0 start on the way to an 18-2-2 record). They didn't have the same kind of difficulties along the way that this team had. That team had swagger beyond swagger. This team has felt losing and really doesn't want to (feel) it again. They've learned from those losses. This team has ridden the roller coaster and come through to the other side. That's a cool experience to watch as a coach – guys never giving up on each other, holding strong together and getting better together."

8. Times have changed, kids have changed, college sports certainly have changed in the 15 years that you've been here. How have you changed?
"I arrived in Seattle at (age) 34 and now I'm 49. How (the players) see me has probably changed. I'm older, but I try to stay young and try to stay connected to them. I want to stay on their wavelength to some degree. I don't know if it becomes harder, but it certainly is different. We have to sometimes find new ways to message them, to make sure they're hearing us. But they're the same kind of kids: They want to be great, they work really hard, they care about the game, and they care about each other."

9. Aside from getting a win, when you go home at night, what might make you say, 'Wow, that was a great day today?'
"It gives me great pleasure watching guys succeed. When someone plays well or breaks through, those are the success stories. Winning is somehow connected to it, and sometimes maybe too much. One of my proudest pieces this year is watching a guy like (freshman midfielder) Kevin Hernandez. He played maybe 70 minutes all season (63, to be precise). Then the past two games, he played almost 90 minutes (32 at SMU, 52 at Maryland). That's the story of a kid who stayed ready, kept caring about his team, kept working hard, was ever-present and ever-positive. That's what makes me happy: Watching kids succeed and maybe having a little input in helping them get there."

10. Were you always going to be a coach, or were you maybe thinking about a completely different kind of career when you were growing up or in high school or college?
"Like every kid, I wanted to play and thinking about wanting to play at a high level. But at some point it made more sense to move on with a career beyond playing. Because I argue a lot, everyone was thinking they wanted me to be a lawyer – and I started thinking that way. Then I somewhat fell into the (coaching) business. I was rehabbing an injury and went and did some rehab at New Mexico. They had a coaching change around that time and I was around the program a lot. The opportunity (to be an assistant) kind of fell at my feet. It was temporary at first; I'd give it a year. And that was the start of four great years there."

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Richie Aman

Kevin Hernandez

Connor Lofy

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