Chartiers Valley hires Edwards as girls soccer coach
Jason Edwards
Chartiers Valley head coach Jason Edwards shares a lighter moment with his players, including goalie Payton O’Malley, during a fall training camp session.
Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Jason Edwards brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to his new job as Chartiers Valley High School girls soccer coach.
“I was introduced to the game at birth,” said the 30-year-old native of Wales. “I don’t know a day football hasn’t been a part of my life.”
Edwards played all his youth soccer in North Wales. He said he captained all of his teams before moving into the men’s division at age 17. He then played for University of Wales at Bangor as well as Lianfairpwll FC.
“Which in it’s proper name is the longest soccer club name in the world,” Edwards said.
At age 15, Edwards started coaching his siblings’ U9 team. The oldest of five, Edwards has three brothers and one sister.
From there, he worked for the local YMCA and county before joining the Bangor City Welsh Premier Academy.
Edwards was the head coach of the U16 girls and Bangor University team before coming to the United States to work at summer camps up and down the East Coast. When he moved to Pittsburgh, he began working with the North Hills Recreation Soccer Program. Eventually, he became assistant director of coaching for the girls at FC Pittsburgh, where he still currently coaches club teams.
Edwards also spent time as an assistant men’s coach at Point Park University and had a short stint at Central Valley High School.
During the first week of August, Edwards replaced Zach Hamilton, who left for the head coaching position at Upper St. Clair.
Though he has had little time to get acquainted, Edwards already has set his sights high for the Colts. He wants to put CV on par with programs like USC, which has won 11 district championships and one PIAA state title, as well as North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and Moon.
“When I learned about CV as a community, a school district and a soccer hub, I set the goal to have CV be a place where every player would want to come and play and a place where coaches want to come coach,” Edward said. “Every one, me included, wants to coach at a great school and for a great program. I am committed to CV and working on developing the program to be a place where coaches look over and think, ‘I wish I was a Colts coach.'”
With basically only a two-week training camp to organize his squad and implement his strategies, Edwards is aware he and his team have plenty of work to do.
“My immediate goals are to ensure there aren’t any excuses,” he said. “I have to ensure that the program, the girls as a team are ready to go despite the challenges at hand.”
Edwards, who is married with two young daughters, is prepared to invest the time to make his goals for CV’s program a reality.
“My long-term aspirations are simple, to make my wife and daughters proud,” he said. “It’s not easy being a wife of a coach in any sport or discipline. It takes time and effort unmatched in any other role.
“It’s their time with their father and husband I trade to be the CV Lady Colts soccer coach,” he added, “and if they can walk proud that I am that coach helping to improve and support student-athletes through soccer then I think I’ll be doing a good job indeed.”
Who is he: A Wales native recently hired as Chartiers Valley girls soccer coach.
Age: 30
Wife: Kenie
Daughters: Edie Jean, Eluned Môn
Occupation: Teaching assistant in elementary school in the North Side
High School: David High School on Isle of Anglesey
College: University of Wales
Studies: Sport Science and Physical Education