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Saint Joseph's University

Saint Joseph's Hawks
Saint Joseph's Hawks
Jess Mannella

Jess Mannella

  • Title
    Head Coach
  • Email
    jmannell@sju.edu
  • Phone
    (610) 660-3367
  • Alma Mater
    Delaware '97
  • Experience
    25th season
Contact Jess Mannella

The only coach in Saint Joseph's program history to lead the Hawks to the Atlantic 10 Tournament, Jess Mannella returns for her 25th season at the helm of the women's soccer squad in 2024-25.

In 24 seasons, Mannella has turned around a team that posted a single A-10 win in the year before she arrived, to a highly-competitive club that has since made 13 postseason appearances and captured the 2016 A-10 regular season title.

Along with team success, the 2016 A-10 Coach of the Year has guided 10 Hawks to All-Region honors, and 29 Hawks to A-10 All-Conference accolades including four Rookies of the Year, three Midfielders of the Year and two Offensive Players of the Year.

Away from the sidelines, Mannella has also been instrumental in guiding the team's previous trips to Brazil, Norway, Spain, California and Colorado. She has directed off-season camps to help raise money for the team, as well as local charities, and was instrumental in establishing volunteer and community service projects for the team.

Prior to coming to Saint Joseph's in August of 2001, she spent one year as head coach at West Chester University, where the Golden Rams compiled a record of 10-9-1. In addition to her responsibilities of handling the soccer team, Mannella also coordinated all aspects of West Chester's extensive summer camp.

A four-year starter at Delaware, Mannella earned her undergraduate degree in education in 1997. One of the top playmakers in Blue Hens history, she currently ranks 10th all-time in program history in assists (13) and  helped her team to a 48-25-3 record from 1993-96. She returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach in April of 1999 and also served as an assistant women's soccer coach at Temple for one season.

A native of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, Mannella presently serves as head coach of FC BUCKS U17 NPL team and coaches the U7 and U8 CRUSA Academy. She is also currently working towards a master's degree in educational leadership at Saint Joseph's. A former standout at Strath Haven High School, Mannella currently resides in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Dan, and daughters.

Year School Overall Record Pct. Conference Record Pct. Conference Finish
2000 West Chester 10-9-1 .525 5-5-0 .500 4th
2001 Saint Joseph's 5-10-2 .353 2-7-2 .273 10th
2002 Saint Joseph's 4-12-1 .265 1-9-1 .136 11th
2003 Saint Joseph's 9-8-1 .528 7-4-0 .636 5th (A-10 Tournament)
2004 Saint Joseph's 9-11-1 .452 6-4-1 .591 4th (A-10 Tournament)
2005 Saint Joseph's 8-9-3 .475 4-3-2 .555 5th (A-10 Tournament)
2006 Saint Joseph's 7-11-0 .389 4-5-0 .444 8th
2007 Saint Joseph's 3-15-1 .184 1-9-1 .136 14th
2008 Saint Joseph's 8-7-4 .526 3-4-4 .455 8th
2009 Saint Joseph's 7-9-3 .409 4-6-1 .447 T-8th
2010 Saint Joseph's 5-11-2 .333 2-5-2 .333 13th
2011 Saint Joseph's 7-7-5 .500 2-4-3 .389 9th
2012 Saint Joseph's 9-7-4 .550 4-2-3 .611 6th (A-10 Tournament)
2013 Saint Joseph's 7-8-3 .472 3-4-1 .438 T-9th
2014 Saint Joseph's 11-9-0 .550 4-4-0 .500 6th (A-10 Tournament)
2015 Saint Joseph's 13-7-0 .650 7-3-0 .700 3rd (A-10 Tournament)
2016 Saint Joseph's 18-2-2 .864 9-0-1 .950 1st (A-10 Tournament)
2017 Saint Joseph's 11-6-3 .625 5-3-2 .600 7th (A-10 Tournament)
2018 Saint Joseph's 14-5-2 .714 8-2-1 .773 3rd (A-10 Tournament)
2019 Saint Joseph's 7-10-2 .421 4-6-1 .409 7th (A-10 Tournament)
2020 Saint Joseph's 3-8-2 .308 2-5-1 .312 4th North Division
2021 Saint Joseph's 6-12-2 .350 5-5-0 .500 T-7th (A-10 Tournament)
2022 Saint Joseph's 5-8-7 .425 3-2-5 .550 7th (A-10 Tournament)
2023 Saint Joseph's 4-9-6 .368 4-3-3 .550 6th (A-10 Tournament)
Overall 24 Seasons 190-210-57 .478 99-104-35 .490 13 Postseason Appearances