Pacific women’s soccer program welcomes Jeff Freeman from Illinois as head coach

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific women’s soccer program will be under new leadership heading into the 2025 calendar year as Jeff Freeman was hired as Head Coach, announced Director of Athletics Adam Tschuor.

Freeman arrives at Pacific after spending the last 14 seasons at the University of Illinois, including the last eight as Associate Head Coach. During his time at Illinois, the Fighting Illini reached at least the second round of the NCAA Tournament three times including a Sweet 16 appearance. Freeman served a stint as the interim head coach for one season.

“A very sincere thank you to President Christopher Callahan, Adam Tschuor, and Wes Yourth. I have always believed in surrounding myself with great people and with those three in charge, Pacific Athletics is quickly heading in the right direction. The campus, facilities, community and all of the people I have met throughout the process far exceeded my expectations. University of the Pacific is an extraordinary place, and I couldn’t be more excited to get going. I also need to thank my wife Jamie and daughters Ellie and Rylie for their unwavering support today and throughout my career,” Freeman said.

In addition to his coaching duties at Illinois, he was also the recruiting coordinator. Freeman coached Vanessa DiBernardo to All-America honors and was nominated for U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year in 2012, and saw Jannelle Flaws lead the nation and break the school record in goals scored.

“Jeff has been so loyal and was an incredible assistant. I am so excited for him to have this opportunity to lead a program of his own. He is an excellent coach, motivator and developer of great young women. Pacific and the student-athletes there are very fortunate to have Coach Freeman join the program,” said Janet Rayfield, who spent 23 seasons as the head coach at Illinois and is the winningest coach in the program’s history.

Prior to Illinois, Freeman served at the University of Miami (Fla.) from 2004-10, including the last three years as Associate Head Coach. He played a prominent role in Miami earning conference and national recognition with top-25 rankings and back-to-back appearances in the 2007-08 NCAA Tournaments. As Recruiting Coordinator, Freeman was responsible for the Hurricanes 2007 top-25 recruiting class, which included ACC Freshman of the Year Brittney Steinbruch, and fellow U-20 National Team member Brittney Macdonald.

Freeman joined the Hurricanes staff after serving as Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Missouri State, for four seasons from 2000-03. Under Freeman’s tutelage, the Missouri State women won the MVC crown and earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

In total, Freeman has helped coach six NCAA Tournament teams, a Big Ten championship squad, a MVC championship team, five Conference Player of the Years and multiple nationally ranked recruiting classes.

“Coach Freeman has spent the last 25 years coaching Division I women’s soccer and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Pacific. He’s been a part of NCAA Tournament teams at each of his coaching stops and has recruited numerous players who have gone on to play professionally. I am excited to begin the new year with Coach Freeman at the helm,” Tschuor said.

As a student-athlete at Missouri State, Freeman earned Academic All-Conference recognition as a goalkeeper with the Bears and was a member of the 1997 squad that made the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning a top-10 national ranking and the MVC regular season title.

Freeman and his wife, Jamie, have two daughters, Ellie and Rylie. Jamie was also a soccer standout at Missouri State. A four-year letterwinner, she was the team captain for three seasons. Jamie was a three-time MVC All-Conference First Team selection and was named to the 2006 MVC Centennial Team.

Freeman, who earned a bachelor’s and master’s in education from Missouri State, is accredited as a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) `A’ Licensed Coach and holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He has served as a clinician at 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 NSCAA Conventions.