Jen Leaverton is in her third season as an assistant coach of the New York University women’s soccer team. In addition to coaching, her main responsibilities are in the area of recruiting.
Last year, the Violets posted a 7-8-3 overall record and a 0-5-2 mark in the ultra-competitive University Athletic Association (UAA) which featured four NCAA Tournament teams: Washington University, Emory University, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University). Leaverton helped lead the Violets to a victory over NCAA Tournament-bound Farmingdale State College.
Six Violets received All-UAA honors last season, including sophomore Melissa Menta who was named First Team. She was the team’s offensive leader in goals (7) assists (5) and points (19). The Violets also experienced success off the pitch. Senior Erin Ahmed was named CoSIDA First Team All-Academic District 3, while 16 Violets received UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors, 19 made NYU’s Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee Fall Honor Roll, and four received the Student Athlete Academic Achievement Award.
NYU broke numerous records during Leaverton’s first season in 2012. The Violets established new standards for goals scored (50) and goals per game (2.78 per game). In addition, the team set new marks for points (142) and assists (42). Overall, NYU compiled a 10-7-1 record, including a 2-4-1 mark in the UAA.
Leaverton arrived at NYU after a stellar four-year playing career at St. John’s University, where the forward left her mark on the school’s record books. She played in 77 games for the Red Storm, 67 of which were starts, and finished her career tied for second in school history in games played. Leaverton tallied 17 career goals and 39 career points, finishing ninth in school history in goals. As a senior, she netted 10 goals, tied for fifth in a single season all-time at St. John’s, and recorded 22 points, tied for sixth in school history.
Leaverton racked up numerous accolades in her time at St. John’s. As a senior, she was named Second Team All-Big East, Capital One First Team Academic All-District 1 and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Third Team Scholar All-East Region. She was also named NSCAA Second Team Scholar All-East Region as a junior.
Leaverton also spent two years on the St. John’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and one on the Big East SAAC.
Leaverton played under NYU Head Coach Michele Canning, who was an assistant at St. John’s prior to arriving at NYU in 2011, as a sophomore and junior. The two also partnered to create the Score for a Cure campaign, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser that has raised more than $7,000 to date.
Coaching is nothing new for Leaverton, who possesses a NSCAA Goalkeeping Certificate Level 1. She has worked with the First Kicks soccer clinic, the Wheaton College (MA) Soccer’s Future Academy and the Boston University Women's Soccer Camp. She also attended the Women's Coaching Academy in Denver, CO, and earned her NSCAA National Diploma in December 2013.
A 2012 graduate of St. John’s with a Bachelor of Science degree in sport management, Leaverton was a member of the school’s prestigious President’s Society as an undergraduate.
A native of Mansfield, MA, Leaverton resides in Fresh Meadows, NY.
