Courtney Calderon closes the chapter on two decades of excellence at Chapman

Courtesy of Larry Newman

As Chapman women’s soccer steps into another spring season, they have the difficult task of saying goodbye to longtime head coach and Chapman soccer alumni Courtney Calderon. She made the choice to step away from the program after 21 years of service. 

“I don't think it was difficult because I think everything in life happens for a reason,” Calderon said. 

This season, instead of coaching, she’s choosing to spend more time with her family. Calderon has three daughters, who are all below the age of 15. With her girls growing up so quickly, Calderon said she feels the need to be there for them in these important times.

“When I finally asked my girls if they were excited to have Mom around more, they said ‘yes,’” Calderon said. “I think that was it for me… I only get so many years with them and I don’t want to regret it.”

Calderon first arrived at Chapman in 1997, as a wide eyed freshman on the women's soccer team. Quickly rising up the ranks, she became team captain her sophomore year and helped lead the Panthers to their first NCAA tournament appearance her junior year in 1999. This started a run of six straight appearances for Chapman. 

During her time at Chapman, Calderon has been a part of all eight NCAA tournaments the Panthers have been invited to, first as a player, then assistant, and finally head coach. She also won the first title for the athletic department when she coached the girls to the 2012 SCIAC Postseason Tournament final, and amassed a win rate of just under 50% in 21 years coaching the program, for a record of 178-157-37.

Throughout her time at Chapman, Calderon was able to form lifelong relationships with all the women who played for her squad. She said she hopes to leave a lasting impact on every girl she’s coached, empowering them to continue being strong and powerful women in the world today. 

“As much as I loved what I did, I just hope I made an impact on the lives that I was able to coach,” said Calderon. “I think the thing I’m most proud of is their accomplishments off the field. I graduated all players. They're just great women and they’re doing amazing things in life, to me that's more important than the wins and losses.”

The girls on the team have similar things to say. MJ Smith, a senior midfielder who transferred to Chapman after playing two seasons of Division I soccer at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, looked back fondly on her first memories of meeting Calderon and becoming part of the Chapman family. 

“We would do an alumni soccer dinner at her house,” said Smith. “When I first came they made me emcee it and I didn’t know anyone's name… I was really nervous but I feel like she appreciated the silliness I brought to the team and didn’t make me feel like I needed to change.”

Smith said that although the girls on the team are looking forward to meeting their new coach, they wish Calderon the best in her future endeavors as a mom and teacher at Sycamore Junior High School.

The girls on the team aren’t the only piece of Chapman family that Calderon is leaving behind, she’s also saying goodbye to Director of Athletics Terry Boesel. Boesel said it doesn’t come as that much of a shock to him that Calderon has finally chosen to step down.

“I knew eventually she was gonna get tired of having two jobs and she’d eventually step away, but to have her for 20 plus years was definitely a bonus,” said Boesel.

When asked for some words to describe Calderon, Boesel didn’t hesitate to compliment his former colleague calling her a “passionate,” “tough minded” and “old school” coach.

“She was a joy to work with, her teams were always well behaved,” Boesel said. “They were always one of the highest academic GPAs in our department. Women's soccer? Really no worries about them, and that comes from the leadership of Courtney.”

Boesel said that the search has begun for a new women's coach, but the hiring pool remains limited due to both the men and womens soccer coaching positions remaining part time positions through the 2025 school year.

He plans to involve some of the players on the team with the new search for a head coach, hoping that they will help sniff out the identity they look to for the future. Boesel’s goals in doing this are simple: keep the tradition, culture and identity that Calderon built within Chapman women's soccer program alive long into the future.

When asked for a goodbye message for Calderon, Boesel took a second before offering his final admiration for Calderon and her amazing service to Chapman throughout her adult life. From coming here as a freshman, to becoming assistant and then finally head coach of the women's soccer team, Boesel said Calderon is a “Chapman Panther, through and through.”

“She epitomizes what a real Chapman Panther is, and we’re going to miss that around our department,” Boesel said. “But we wish her nothing but the best as she moves forward into her personal life with her family.”

Saying goodbye to Calderon won’t be easy for the Chapman athletic family, but her dedication and love for the university will continue to shine in the lasting legacy she’s built.