By Sabrina Pickett
Staff Writer
Many Mira Costa alumni find a way to reconnect with Costa after graduation, but there are few who have gone as far as former Mira Costa soccer player Lindsay Bullock.
Bullock was a four-year letterman on the Mira Costa girls soccer team and led the Mustangs to three Bay League titles from 2003-2007. Bullock rejoined the program in 2012, but this time as the junior varsity coach. She reconnected with Mira Costa’s campus when she became a student teacher for Algebra 3-4 and Pre-Calculus teacher Timothy Kelley at the beginning of the second semester.
“I’ve always been a natural leader,” Bullock said. “When the opportunity came up to coach last year, I was very excited because soccer has always been my passion.”
Although Bullock is more familiar with being a player than a coach, she stepped into the role mid-season last year and was a strong leader for the JV team, according to current JV captain and junior Brooke Taylor. Bullock feels that she learned a lot about coaching from the coaching staff at California State University, Long Beach, where she played soccer from 2007-2011.
“Lindsay has been my coach for the past two seasons at Costa, and she has helped me improve as a player,” Taylor said. “She also relates to the team and helps us improve as a unit.”
As a student at Costa, Bullock excelled in math and tutored fellow students in the subject. Her passion for math lead her to major in math education at CSU Long Beach. At the start of this semester, Bullock started teaching lessons in Kelley’s Algebra 3-4 classes.
“I realized I wanted to major in math education when I tutored freshmen in algebra my sophomore year at Costa,” Bullock said. “I chose to go to Long Beach State because the academic programs fit my needs, and I was also able to play soccer at a Division 1 school.”
While attending CSU Long Beach, Bullock also played for the Pali Blues, a semi-professional women’s soccer team in the United Soccer League-W League. The Blues are tied for first place for the most W-League championships won.
“It’s not easy being a student-athlete, but I’ve always put the same amount of effort into soccer that I do with academics, and that really helped me succeed as a student-athlete,” Bullock said.
When Bullock isn’t coaching Costa’s JV team or in the classroom, she gives private soccer lessons to younger girls. She also plays in an adult league at Aviation Park.
“Soccer has been a big part of my life, and I really like being around the game,” Bullock said. “I’ve always understood the game, which has helped me succeed at soccer whether I’m playing or coaching.”
In the future, Bullock plans to become a math teacher and would like to stay involved with Costa girls soccer.
“I have had so much fun coaching for the past two seasons,” Bullock said. “Soccer is my passion, and I hope to stay around for as long as I possibly can.”
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