KCsoccer.com Interview: Jefferson Roblee

Photo: William Jewell College Associate Head Coach and KC Brass Head Coach Jefferson Roblee talks with KCsoccer.com


Today KCsoccer.com profiles: Jefferson Roblee

Team(s) you are affiliated with:
William Jewell College, Associate Head Coach (M & W): 2006-present
Kansas City Brass (PDL), Head Coach: 2002-present
KC Wizards Youth Training Program, Director: 2001-2005
Missouri Boys 87 ODP State Team, Coach: 2001-2005
KC Pace youth teams, Coach: 1995-2007
Liberty High School, JV Boys & Girls Coach: 1994-1997

How did you begin playing/coaching? I went to a YMCA soccer clinic when I was 6 years old. My dad took over coaching my YMCA team before our second season and that really helped energized my interest. George Derra began coaching me when I was 12. My first official coaching job was as the JV boys and girls coach at Liberty High School during the 1994/1995 school year.

Name some of your biggest wins as a player/coach:As a U15 player my club team (UHS Apollos) defeated the U16 Manatoba Canada Province team (Canadian ODP team) at the 1986 USA Cup. The game was played under the lights (very rare at the time) and was the second half of a doubleheader feature exhibition. The first half of the doubleheader feature was the USA vs Canada women's national teams (It was either the first or second USA women's national team match ever!). It was a summer of the World Cup (Mexico 86) and my team wore USA looking uniforms during the match and the Canadian team wore red (it looked like our game was a USA vs Canada national team match as well). Although it was just an exhibition we played with national pride! We won 3-2 playing great soccer vs our older opponents. I didn't have a goal or assist in the game but our team effort and the atmosphere made it impossible to forget. And although it wasn't a monumental victory, in college (The University of Tulsa) I scored a goal vs Vanderbilt. It was one of my better goals but what made it special was that Lincoln assisted me on the play (great pass). The TU public address announcer made sure the fans knew that it was a Roblee to Roblee goal.
I've had a lot of memorable victories as a coach. I treasure individual player and team development as much as the victories however there are a few victories that stand out. Some of the victories that stand out include the 87/88 KC Pace historic Missouri state championship in 2005 and also in 2006. In my first year at WJC finishing 9-0-0 in conference, winning the regional championship and winning two games at nationals to advance to the Final Four in 2006 and coaching the KC Brass to qualification in the U.S. Open Cup in 2007. I'm very proud of all those results and the player committment that produced those results.

Name some players you have played/coached against that have impressed you (and why?): I played with or against a lot of good players. We had four Olympic Festival (USA U23 pool) players at TU: David Gordon, Kevin King, Frank Velez and Neal Zahn. They were all very good but Kevin King may have been the best of the bunch. He played numerous games with the USA B National Team (what is now known as U23 National Team). Kevin would have been a successful MLS player had the league been around a few years earlier. I played with and against a lot of very good players at the inaugural MLS discovery tryouts in 1995 and 1996 including future MLS players Brian Kamler and Shane Battelle. All of the players I mentioned could play with skill, strength and confidence. Good players. I have been very fortunate to coach a lot of very talented players. Too many to mention. I've coached against a lot of talented players as well. I've coached against the Wizards in exhibitions a dozen times since 2002 and they have had some very distinguished players since 2002...most notably Preki. Some of the more memorable opponents who were amateurs at the time include Pat Noonan (80/81 Scott Gallagher), Sumed Ibrahim (80/81 Javanon), Heath Pearce (Colorado Rapids PDL), Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids PDL), Nate Jaqua (Colorado Rapids PDL), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire PDL), Ned Grabavoy (Chicago Fire PDL), David Roth (Chicago Fire PDL). However the amatuer player who stood out the most was clearly Vedad Ibisevic. Vedad played for the St. Louis PDL team in 2002 and 2003. Although Vedad was only 19 years old he was clearly the most pro-ready amateur player I have seen competing at an amateur level.

Compare the game now compared to when you first started playing/coaching: The game has grown so much in every way during the past 30 years. The opportunity to play, learn and watch is better at every level (rec, youth, high school, college, amateur, pro, international). When I started playing soccer in 1977, my future high school (Winnetonka) did not have a soccer team...my future college (University of Tulsa) did not have a soccer team...and the city I lived in (Kansas City) did not have a professional team...You had to be very hard core to progress your game. Now young players have loads of opportunity to learn, play and watch very good soccer.

What factors have helped you be a successful player/coach? As a player I had some very good coaches and as a coach I've worked along side some very good coaches. My father was one of my first coaches in the YMCA. He had a very good eye for talent and was very honest in his evaluations. I hope I received some of those qualities from him. The experiences gained from playing for good coaches and working with good coaches cannot be duplicated. I am a competitive person who enjoys helping others appreciate the game while maximizing their talent.

Name your top 11 players you have played with or coached:

MEN:

GK-Todd Dohlman: KC Brass: MISL drafted

D-Ryan Barber: 80/81 KC Pace & KC Brass: Canada U20 & MLS drafted
D-Josh Howard: WJC & KC Brass: MLS Reserve & Swedish D2 player
D-Ryan Raybould: KC Brass: MLS & Allsvenskan (Swedish premier) player
D-Neal Zahn: UHS Apollos & TU: Olympic Fest (USA U23) player
M-Kevin King: TU: Olympic Festival (USA U23) & NPSL player
M-Will John: KC Brass: USA U20 player, MLS & Danish Superliga player
M-Allan Nekuda: WJC & KC Brass: MLS Reserve & MISL drafted

M-Blake Ryan: 80/81 KC Pace & KC Brass: MLS Reserve & MISL drafted
F-Jake Bleyenberg: KC Brass: MLS Reserve and MISL player
F-Frank Velez: TU: Olympic Festival (USA U23) player & NPSL player
I'm not including any person I have coached with or any men's player I could still coach with WJC or KC Brass...Therefore no 87/88 KC Pace players, William Jewell College men's players or current KC Brass players are eligible for this list...there are definitely some players from those teams that could be on this list.

WOMEN:

GK-Rebecca Ewing: NSCAA Scholar All Region

D-Erica Greco: NAIA All America & Academic All America

D-Theresa Noll: NAIA & NSCAA All America

D-Megan Penrod: NAIA All America

D-Lauren Pouche: NSCAA Scholar All Region

M-Katie Brooks: NSCAA All Region & Scholar All Region

M-Shanon Eberle: NAIA & NSCAA All America

M-Kathleen Hatfield: NAIA Academic All America

M-Megan Gray: NAIA All America & Academic All America

F-Nicole Revenaugh: NAIA & NSCAA All America

F-Ashley Tanner: NAIA All America

This is a honor roll of the most decorated women's players during my time coaching at WJC.

Name your top 11 players of all time (no restrictions):

GK-Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
D-Cafu (Brazil)
D-Franz Beckenbauer (W. Germany)
D-Paolo Maldini (Italy)
M-Lothar Mattheaus (W. Germany/Germany)
M-Zinedine Zidane (France)
M-Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
M-Diego Maradona (Argentina)
M-Pele (Brazil)
F-Romario (Brazil)
F-Ronaldo (Brazil)
All of these players were World Cup winners except for Cristiano Ronaldo...who was World Player of the Year in 2008. In this 3-5-2: Buffon in goal. Cafu on the right, Beckenbauer in the middle and Maldini on the left. Although all three can go forward they would all stay back and use their defensive instincts in this 11. Lothar and Zizoo play as twin holding mids. Lothar has experience there and Zidane can play anywhere. C. Ronaldo and Pele on the wings but could probably roam on this team...Maradona is the attacking mid. Give Maradona the ball and this team will score every time. Romario and Ronaldo up top...Unstoppable.

This interview was completed on: (date) February 20, 2009.