Q&A with former Handsworth field hockey standout and Iowa assistant Jess Barnett
NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Q&A with former Handsworth field hockey standout and Iowa Hawkeyes assistant coach Jess Barnett.
Name and position with the team/club.聽
Jess Barnett: Assistant Coach / University of Iowa
What team do you coach?聽
Barnett: University of Iowa Field Hockey
How long have you been coaching?
Barnett: I have always coached throughout the course of my athletic career, but as a profession, I have been a coach in the NCAA for the past 7 years.
What is your background in this sport? What do you love about field hockey?
Barnett: I grew up as a multi-sport athlete. Ultimately, I chose to pursue field hockey and had an athletic scholarship to play at the University of Iowa. After Iowa, I played on the National Team for a couple years before landing my first assistant coaching job at Yale University.
Where did you go to high school and what sports did you play there?
Barnett: Handsworth 鈥� Field Hockey, Basketball, and Soccer
Name a person who inspired you to play/coach this sport.
Barnett: I don鈥檛 think I could name just one person. I have been so fortunate to have so many incredible coaches and role models in my life. My parents allowed me to take part in all the opportunities I had as an athlete, and I am forever grateful for that.
What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from being a coach?
Barnett: Struggle and adversity are good. The best things (and most rewarding things) come from being challenged. You need to be challenged in order to grow.
What do you like to do outside of coaching?
Barnett: The pandemic really allowed me to spend time exploring other interests. I found out I have a huge passion for photography and being creative. I also love to hike and cycle. Anything outdoors, count me in.
How would you describe your personality?
Barnett: I am definitely more reserved.聽I think the players that I coach would say I am very level-headed and don鈥檛 let my emotions get the best of me.
Do you have a saying or motto that you like to live by?聽
Barnett: I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.
What legacy do you hope to leave as a coach?
Barnett: I imagine a lot of people think coaching is all about winning. Yes, it鈥檚 fun to win, but at the end of the day if I have helped our players become great people and we have allowed them to reach their full potential as athletes 鈥� then that is far more rewarding than any win.
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