In this episode of Offside in the Bay: To the Pitch and Beyond, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Cailin Mullins, head women’s soccer coach at Diablo Valley College. From her unlikely start as a young girl playing on boys’ teams in West Virginia, to competing in the ACC against legends like Mia Hamm, to coaching at Stanford and ultimately leading a junior college program, Cailin shares insights on resilience, opportunity, and why the junior college path can be a powerful choice for soccer athletes.

What You’ll Hear


[00:01:22] Growing up in West Virginia and playing multiple sports before focusing on soccer.

[00:02:36] Choosing the goalkeeper position — and the unique mindset it requires.

[00:04:06] Competing on boys’ teams until 16, and how a loss became a turning point.

[00:06:13] Mentorship from a Chilean coach and early goalkeeper training.

[00:07:26] Breaking into college soccer before Title IX’s full impact.

[00:08:56] Starting all four years at Maryland and facing future soccer icons.

[00:10:13] Changing majors to balance academics with athletics.

[00:11:22] How time demands for student-athletes have increased over the decades.

[00:14:53] Moving to California to join Stanford’s coaching staff.

[00:15:49] Finding a passion for coaching — and why she eventually chose the junior college level.


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