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Ex-Dodger Lee lands new soccer role in Virgin Islands

Submitted photo Francis Lee, a former Fort Dodge Dodger, kicks the ball during her collegiate career at William Penn University.

Francis Lee knew soccer would lead her into the next chapter in her life.

She just didn’t necessarily expect to land along the border of North America and the Caribbean.

The 2014 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate has accepted a position as the female youth development officer/coach in the United States Virgin Islands.

“It was never a question of what I wanted to for a career,” Lee said. “Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to coach soccer. But I never thought this type of opportunity would present itself to me directly out of college.”

Lee will go into elementary schools and promote the game of soccer in St. Croix and St. Thomas. She will be teaching soccer, educating students and teachers alike.

“Hopefully, I can encourage more girls to continue to play,” Lee said. “Here on the island, soccer is not the main sport. Stacked on top of that, girls are not as interested in or as encouraged to play soccer as much as the boys are.

“Throughout this fall, I will be organizing a youth girls league involving the students I work with. This will start at the beginning of January. I will also be helping coach the U15 and U17 girls national teams.”

Lee’s main goal is to make soccer more popular in the area.

“The goal is to build the female soccer program from the ground up in the hopes that the girls soccer population will grow,” Lee said. “We want to be able to implement more leagues and clubs at all ages.

“This will then help develop national players for the USVI.”

Lee will spend the majority of her time in St. Croix, but will also be in St. Thomas.

“I’ll be traveling to St. Thomas twice a week,” Lee said. “That’s about a 30 minute plane ride there and back on the same day. I will also travel with any team I coach as well as attending any conferences back in the states.

“I love it. St. Croix is a beautiful little island, filled with welcoming natives and an amazing view of the ocean almost anywhere. I’m excited and ready to take on whatever comes my way.”

Lee was a four-year player at William Penn University, graduating in 2018. She had nine career goals in college.

Lee made the connections in college to enter this first phase of coaching after her playing career.

“My college coach went on a trip to the Bahamas on a camp/recruiting trip, and was fortunate enough to meet the FIFA President of the Caribbean,” Lee said. “He let her know that a couple little islands were looking to bring in a young female, straight out of college, to coach female youth soccer there. I was given the email address of the President of the USVI and sent my resume back in January, hoping for the best.

“After a couple of months, I received an email back explaining they were interested in interviewing me on video chat. They flew me and my coach to the island in June and they offered me the job.”

Lee was a four-year starter for Fort Dodge Senior High. She is tied with Iris Peimann and Madeline Westerhoff as the school’s career scoring leader. Lee was a three-time all-CIML player, and earned scholar-athlete awards her junior and senior years.

The driving force behind Lee’s passion for the game has been her family.

“My family has been my biggest influence and my biggest (support system),” Lee said. “My dad (Dr. Michael Lee of Fort Dodge) coached me for 10 years and taught me almost everything I know about soccer. I found the inspiration to want to continue and pursue a coaching career through his love of the game.

“My mom (Darcy Lee), showed me how to be strong and how to stick up for myself. There are a lot of careers that are very male-dominated — coaching soccer being one of them. Both my parents have given me the tools and lessons necessary to be successful, to be brave, and to take chances in life. Growing up with three older brothers was not always easy, but they made me into the tough, thick-skinned and courageous woman I am today.”

St. Croix will be a long way from home, but Lee is excited for the journey ahead.

“The experience this job will bring me is something I am extremely grateful for,” Lee said. “You don’t get an opportunity like this every day. I feel very lucky.

“In my eyes, I want to make a difference no matter where I am. If I can leave this job knowing I did everything I can to improve female soccer here, I will be happy.”

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