Mallory Coleman

Former Clinton high school standout and current Ole Miss soccer star, Mallory Coleman is having an outstanding season in her senior year.

The Ole Miss rebels are ranked 21st in the nation. Mallory has been instrumental in helping the  rebels achieved that position. She is a talented player with an excellent work ethic.

Although, I have never coached Mallory at high school or club level. I have worked with her several times on an individual basis. She is an excellent role model with a strong passion for the game.  Read my questions and answers with Mallory Coleman.

ddemmin: How was preseason training?
Mallory Coleman: Preseason is always very hard because we are spending so much time training and It just takes a toll on our bodies. It was also tough because we had seventeen new players came in this year and when you put everyone together it brought many new personalities to the team.  We trained three times a day for about a week then tapered in to getting ready prepared for our first game.

ddemmin: What was some of the training you did this past summer to get ready for your season?
Mallory Coleman: They expect us to come into preseason very fit and ready to step right into playing without fitness being a problem.  Not being able to play in full field games because of numbers I had to rely my training and running on my own to make sure I was ready. I trained fitness and agility every morning with two past teammates: Courtney Alexander and Rachel Given. We ran fitness tests and worked on touches and 1 v 1s to keep touches on the ball.

ddemmin: How is your season going so far?
Mallory Coleman: So far out season is going great! We are 9-3-1 and with some very important SEC games to go.  Our team is very young but we have a lot of talented players who are stepping up in big games.  Our team works very hard and we are playing well together.  If we continue to play with confidence and strive to get better everyday I feel like we could be very successful.

ddemmin: I have to ask this question, what’s the most you have ever juggle?(smile)
Mallory Coleman: This one is always tough for me!! I have to say that when I was 12 I set a major record of 115 (juggling is not my strongest area)

ddemmin: What advice would you give to young soccer players that want to follow in your footstep?
Mallory Coleman: I would tell young players to take full advantage of every opportunity they get to play and compete.  We were blessed with the ability to play soccer at some of the highest levels and we shouldn’t take that for granted. Also, I would tell young players to work hard everyday at practice and in games. It’s important to always keep a positive attitude in every situation because you’re not going to win every game but you can always learn from every situation. I would recommend learning as much as you can, be able to take criticism and let it make you stronger as a player. Lastly, would be to have fun soccer is fun and we are supposed to enjoy playing the game.

ddemmin: Do you have any funny stories to share or any funny incident that happen to you or your teammates?
Mallory Coleman: We have a tradition on our team to play a prank on one of the freshmen during preseason and when I was a freshman I was the target. During preseason we eat in our schools dining hall which always has ice cream you can get for dessert.  So when the joke was on me I had a teammate come up to me and tell me that another one of our teammates favorite parts of the ice cream was the bottom of the cone and they dared me to ask for a lick and bite off the bottom of the cone, thinking I was getting the person eating the ice cream. Being the daring freshman that I was I didn’t want to turn down the dare. Little did I know the joke was on me and they filled the bottom of the cone with mayonnaise and mustard and everyone laughed because I got tricked. Ever since then I have played the same prank on the incoming freshmen and the ritual will continue.

ddemmin: Who is your favorite male and female professional soccer player?
Mallory Coleman:Female- Kristine Lily, Male-Lionel Messi

ddemmin: Besides Ole Miss, if you could have played at any other school which one would you choose and why?
Mallory Coleman: I don’t think I would choose another school because I have loved every minute of my time here and would not change it for the world. The people I have met and experiences we have gone through have made me a better person and a stronger player.

To read more about Mallory and her teammates click here: http://www.olemisssports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=12887&SPID=741&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=2600&ATCLID=204812309