by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
One of Kansas City’s most successful soccer coaches over the last 25 years, Jefferson Roblee is the new assistant women’s coach at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
A former head men’s and women’s head coach at William Jewell College in Liberty, Roblee also boasts a wealth of experience at the club level in the Kansas City area.
“Am very excited to have the knowledge and input Jefferson brings into our program,” KCKCC head coach Shawn Uhlenhake said. “He has a great reputation as a coach and as a person. I’ve had some really good people involved with this program and I think he will continue to help us build and define our culture for the KCKCC soccer program. I’m excited to see what he can add to the program.”
The Blue Devils are coming off their best season in history in 2019, winning a record 13 games and reaching the championship game of the Region VI playoffs.
Roblee succeeds Sara Matthews, who left to become head coach at her alma mater, Baker University. Uhlenhake’s first assistant coach, Katie Kelly, also resigned to become head coach at Avila University.
“I’m excited to join the KCKCC soccer family and assist Shawn in developing college soccer student-athletes to achieve and succeed,” Roblee said.
The associate head coach at William Jewell from 2006-2010. Roblee was the Cardinals’ head men’s coach from 2011-15 and head women’s coach from 2011-2019, earning places in the national rankings with both programs. His men’s team was ranked 21st nationally and earned a berth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship in 2012. His nationally ranked women’s team reached the NCAA DII national tournament in 2012 and the 2013 team was ranked No. 12 nationally and qualified for the GLVC tournament.
Both teams achieved academic success as well – the men’s team winning NSCAA Academic Awards in each of his five seasons and the women’s team earned seven straight NSCAA Academic Awards from 2011-18. The women’s team also earned a NSCAA Team Ethics Award in 2012. Individually, Roblee has coached 16 players who have been drafted or signed by teams in the MLS (Major Soccer League) and more than 70 players who have earned All-America honors or played with professional teams.
Roblee began coaching at the club level in 1995, coaching teams that won the Kansas State Cup championship in 2001 and Missouri State Cup championships in 2005 and 2006. The head coach of the Kansas City Brass team that qualified for the U.S. Open Cup in 2007, Roblee has also been involved with the U.S. Youth Soccer’s Olympic Development program and served as an evaluator for Sporting KC and FC Kansas City open tryouts.
Coaching soccer runs in the Roblee family. Jefferson’s twin brother, Lincoln, is the head women’s soccer coach at Benedictine College. A graduate of Winnetonka High School. Roblee played college soccer at the University of Tulsa before finishing his communications degree at Park University.
He has certification and membership in a half-dozen national coaching organizations including the U.S. Soccer Federation and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.