California State University of San Bernardino Athletics

To say that Jackie Powers Knopke owns the Coyotes soccer record book is a little like saying you are pretty sure the sun will come up in the morning. It is one of those must truths about CSUSB athletics.
 
Nearly 25 years after the Highland native stepped off the pitch for the final time wearing the Black and Blue, she remains CSUSB’s all-time leader in every offensive category.  All nine categories in which you can score — goals, assists and points — in a game, a season and a career belong to her.
 
After playing club soccer for one of former CSUSB women’s coach Carlos Juarez’s teams, she moved on to San Gorgonio HS and starred in the sport.
 
It was an easy decision to follow the former state Highway 30 to CSUSB for college.
 
“When I played at San G, most of my teammates were older, so it was an easy transition to follow them and play at CSUSB,’’ said Knopke, who now resides in Kansas City, Mo., and works as a corporate trainer. “I was so fortunate to have great teammates and playing near home was special.’’
 
Along with playing soccer, she maintained a full load of classes and worked part-time as a waitress. All accomplished while living across the street from CSUSB.
 
“I had so much fun with balancing all of it,’’ she said. “I also had to keep up my grades in order to maintain my scholarship. It motivated me to not have my grades slip. l loved playing soccer so much that I wasn’t going to slack off. Balancing work with school and soccer was a lot of work, but I still had time to have fun. I never felt like I missed out on stuff.’’
 
Her accolades include three All-CCAA honors and named the 1991 CCAA Player of the Year.  She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and went on to teach at San G.
 
She is the mother of twin daughters — Jordyn and Josephine (age 12) — and to this day participates in activities with her girls at their school. “I still have butterflys getting the chance to play volleyball or dodge ball with them,’’ she said with a laugh.
 
The opportunity to use her skills in soccer paid off with giving her an education. To this day, her ability to balance those tasks from long ago remains in her mind.
 
“Earning my degree at CSUSB and playing soccer changed my life,’’ she said. “Every time I have  a challenge, I draw upon my time as a student-athlete. Being a student-athlete gave me a tremendous amount of confidence and provided a great foundation for the rest of my life.’’