As a Timothy Dwight (TD) student, we take a lot of pride in our athletic performance at the intramural sports championships. So as the winningest college with 14 trophies, it was very fitting that TD’s Chubb Fellow (more on that here) for the spring was Jill Ellis! Jill Ellis is a soccer coach and manager best known for coaching the US women’s soccer team and is now running her own San Diego team.
The talk with Jill was originally scheduled prior to COVID back in 2020, but got delayed all the way until 2024. Lucky for me, I got here in time to attend this. Jill was extremely generous by spending the whole day at Yale, starting with meeting the TD Fellows at a fellow’s event. The event was open to the public in the afternoon with an interview by Head of College Mary Lui (HL). She talked through her life starting in Britain before ending up as a soccer recruit in college. Then, the story was a miraculous chain of fortunate events as she ended up an assistant coach for a new collegiate women’s soccer team at the start of her career, and all her other coaching experiences that led her to the present. It was truly inspiring hearing about her struggles and mindset that helped her build up the US women’s soccer program.
Dinner time with the back of Jill’s (in the navy suit)
After the talk, TD students and soccer players at Yale were able to eat a special dinner in the TD dining hall, created by the wonderful dining hall staff. It was so yummy and an amazing opportunity to say hi to Jill and engage in an informal conversation during Q&A. Jill was incredibly kind to walk around all the tables to meet the students.
Starter salad: meal of champions
Main course: meaty salmon
Dessert: I love guava
Jill the photobomber
