University of Minnesota Athletics
Get to Know New Gopher Soccer Assistant Coach Allie Wisner
8/9/2021 9:36:00 AM | Soccer
In mid July, the Minnesota women's soccer program officially hired Allie Wisner as assistant coach. Since then, Wisner has been hard at work with head coach Erin Chastain and company since assuming the duties associated with her new position.
Wisner, who was a four-year starter at Utah, played professionally in the NWSL and overseas. Before bringing her talents to the U, the new Gopher assistant coach spent the past three seasons coaching at the University of Utah.
Although Gopher Sports has already gone into the details regarding Wisner's impressive resume both on the playing field and on the sidelines, there is still plenty to learn about one of the newest members of the Minnesota family.
GopherSports: How did you get introduced to the game of soccer? What drew you to continue playing and eventually play at Utah?
Allie Wisner: "I fell in love with the game at a young age. I can attribute the "spark" from an invite from my best friend to play on the 'Beluga Wales.'
I had always set big goals for myself and dreamed of playing professionally. At the time, that was not much of an option for a small-town Montana kid. I knew playing at a high collegiate level was one of the necessary steps I had to achieve. Halfway through high school I moved to California to live with my brother in to get more exposure. That's where my coach at Utah, Rich, saw me play and began the recruiting process."
GS: What was it like playing overseas? And in the NWSL?
Wisner: "Playing professionally is one of the greatest life experiences I have had. I learned and grew the most as a player and person during those times. I had to learn to solve problems and lean on my own personal strength. Japan was definitely my favorite place to play professional soccer. The combination of the technical abilities and the work ethic fit my style of play. These qualities were engrained in all walks of Japanese life and culture and I really valued that while I was there."
GS: What made you want to become a coach? Why Minnesota?
Wisner: "The coaches in my life have always been integral people in my personal and playing development. They played a huge role in helping me become the person I am today. Coaching always came naturally to me and I find it rewarding to have an impact on young women's lives the way my coaches left an impact on me. I chose Minnesota mostly because of the opportunity to work for Erin. Everyone I knew spoke very highly of her. Our values really aligned and that was very important to me as I moved on to my next chapter of coaching."
GS: What are some of your interests outside of soccer?
Wisner: "I love to be outside. I've always like to explore so trail running, hiking and camping have always been great interests. I also love to read and learn. Recently I've been playing basketball, which was the first sport I loved growing up."
GS: Who do you look up to/who inspires you? Why?
Wisner: "My family and also my future family. They all dream big and have an unrelenting work ethic. They inspire me to continue to grow and become my best self. That type of mentality is one that I've always wanted to have myself, so to have those around me within my family and loved ones has really pushed me in my life and I can't thank them enough."
GS: What kinds of players did you try to emulate when you played? What style of soccer do you enjoy watching?
Wisner: "I think the tenacity and grit of Michelle Akers, who played for the United States from 1985-2000. I took a lot of pride in being the player that left it all on the field, similar to how Michelle played. I always have enjoyed an attacking style of soccer, and I hope to bring that mentality here to Minnesota. Soccer can, at times, present itself as a puzzle and I'm always interested to see how players react and solve the problems they are faced with within matches."
GS: Why do you think having an all-female coaching staff at Minnesota is important?
Wisner: "I do believe it is pretty special for these young women at Minnesota to see strong women be put into leadership positions, including our coaching staff. In my career I have mostly learned and played for male coaches - which I loved and thrived. I wouldn't trade my learning from them for anything, but I hope having an all-female staff can give our student-athletes a chance to emulate some of those strong female qualities into their own lives whether that is on the field or off of it."
Wisner, who was a four-year starter at Utah, played professionally in the NWSL and overseas. Before bringing her talents to the U, the new Gopher assistant coach spent the past three seasons coaching at the University of Utah.
Although Gopher Sports has already gone into the details regarding Wisner's impressive resume both on the playing field and on the sidelines, there is still plenty to learn about one of the newest members of the Minnesota family.
GopherSports: How did you get introduced to the game of soccer? What drew you to continue playing and eventually play at Utah?
Allie Wisner: "I fell in love with the game at a young age. I can attribute the "spark" from an invite from my best friend to play on the 'Beluga Wales.'
I had always set big goals for myself and dreamed of playing professionally. At the time, that was not much of an option for a small-town Montana kid. I knew playing at a high collegiate level was one of the necessary steps I had to achieve. Halfway through high school I moved to California to live with my brother in to get more exposure. That's where my coach at Utah, Rich, saw me play and began the recruiting process."
GS: What was it like playing overseas? And in the NWSL?
Wisner: "Playing professionally is one of the greatest life experiences I have had. I learned and grew the most as a player and person during those times. I had to learn to solve problems and lean on my own personal strength. Japan was definitely my favorite place to play professional soccer. The combination of the technical abilities and the work ethic fit my style of play. These qualities were engrained in all walks of Japanese life and culture and I really valued that while I was there."
GS: What made you want to become a coach? Why Minnesota?
Wisner: "The coaches in my life have always been integral people in my personal and playing development. They played a huge role in helping me become the person I am today. Coaching always came naturally to me and I find it rewarding to have an impact on young women's lives the way my coaches left an impact on me. I chose Minnesota mostly because of the opportunity to work for Erin. Everyone I knew spoke very highly of her. Our values really aligned and that was very important to me as I moved on to my next chapter of coaching."
GS: What are some of your interests outside of soccer?
Wisner: "I love to be outside. I've always like to explore so trail running, hiking and camping have always been great interests. I also love to read and learn. Recently I've been playing basketball, which was the first sport I loved growing up."
GS: Who do you look up to/who inspires you? Why?
Wisner: "My family and also my future family. They all dream big and have an unrelenting work ethic. They inspire me to continue to grow and become my best self. That type of mentality is one that I've always wanted to have myself, so to have those around me within my family and loved ones has really pushed me in my life and I can't thank them enough."
GS: What kinds of players did you try to emulate when you played? What style of soccer do you enjoy watching?
Wisner: "I think the tenacity and grit of Michelle Akers, who played for the United States from 1985-2000. I took a lot of pride in being the player that left it all on the field, similar to how Michelle played. I always have enjoyed an attacking style of soccer, and I hope to bring that mentality here to Minnesota. Soccer can, at times, present itself as a puzzle and I'm always interested to see how players react and solve the problems they are faced with within matches."
GS: Why do you think having an all-female coaching staff at Minnesota is important?
Wisner: "I do believe it is pretty special for these young women at Minnesota to see strong women be put into leadership positions, including our coaching staff. In my career I have mostly learned and played for male coaches - which I loved and thrived. I wouldn't trade my learning from them for anything, but I hope having an all-female staff can give our student-athletes a chance to emulate some of those strong female qualities into their own lives whether that is on the field or off of it."
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