EVER FORWARD An Employee Spotlight on Malvern’s Varsity Soccer Coach, Mrs. Susan Barr P‘15‘20 By: Allison Hall Even before sitting down to interview Mrs. Susan Barr P‘15‘20,
being a pioneer in that regard because it takes a lot of energy.
it’s clear that she is known and respected for her expertise in the
I wanted my energy to go into the game and be the best coach
soccer world — after all, we had to delay our meeting because she
I could possibly be.” Barr notes that there are actually many
is on the board to select the next women’s soccer coach at Cornell
females coaching at high levels that leave the game due to family
... not too shabby. But as they say, all good things are worth
commitments. She feels the industry could do a better job in
waiting for, and it was a pleasure to meet one of Malven’s newest
helping to keep these coaches in the game.
Varsity Coaches.
In true Malvern form, the players and
Starting in the fall of 2019, Barr became
parents embraced Coach Barr as well. “I
the first female to coach a varsity sport at
never asked them how they felt about
Malvern. Barr has been coaching soccer
having a female coach,” quips Barr. “With
for 30 years, having grown up playing and
this generation of young adults, the two
continuing to play D1 in college at Cornell
main criteria are competency and caring.
University. Following college, Barr began
If they know you are going to help them
coaching youth leagues and played in
improve and compete, I don’t think there is
adult amateur leagues as well. It wasn’t
a whole lot of thought about whether the
until a few years ago that she stopped
coaching role is filled by a man or
playing soccer due to an injury.
a woman.”
Coach Barr holds the highest accreditation
Reflecting on the fall soccer season, Coach
for a soccer coach. In addition to coaching
Barr admits that it did have its stressors.
at Malvern, Barr is the Director of Coaching
“We weren’t winning, but we were com-
at Penn Fusion Soccer Academy, coaches
peting,” she explains. The team began the
two U14 girls soccer teams, and is an
season with a schedule that included some
instructor for U.S. Soccer. It is clear that she
of the toughest opponents in the area. The
loves coaching at the middle school and
early season losses only reinforced what
high school level. “The pressures of young adults today and bring-
the team needed to do to become
ing sports into their lives and using that as a vehicle to overcome
successful. “Our identity as a team began to develop, and that
obstacles and better themselves for the next phase in their lives is
identity was that we were a team that was very difficult to score
a gift,” Barr explains.
on. This created positive energy on the team,” Barr explains.
When asked about what it was like to be the first female coach
Creating a culture for the team was important to Coach Barr.
at Malvern, Barr replies “Here’s the beauty of Malvern. At no point
The team has set goals that are steps to achieving their desired
did I ever feel that [being a woman] was a criterion or that they
outcome — winning. “Our motto is Ever Forward. It is a choice to
were seeking out a female coach. It was really a natural fit, and I
live that way and we can’t go backward,” she shares.
actually had no idea that there hadn’t been female varsity coaches
Looking ahead to the fall 2020 season, Barr is excited. “We have
here before.” Barr explains, “I have always been more focused on my competency [as a coach] because coaching is such a male-dominated industry. In the past, I really wasn’t comfortable
graduated some phenomenal young men who are natural leaders. The great thing is that I have already seen signs of players that want to step into those shoes,” she says. mp
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