by By Dan Ninham, contributing writer
Jordan Coulon is a member of the Onondaga Clear Sky in Canada. She graduated from the University of Connecticut, did her fifth year at Missouri Western State University, and is currently an assistant coach at Wagner College.
One of Coulon’s major accomplishments in academics and athletics was playing at the NCAA D1 University of Connecticut. She said, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to play Division I lacrosse. I was able to play and learn from some amazing coaches, met some of my best friends, and graduated with my bachelor’s.”
Coulon also believes it’s an accomplishment whenever she gets to play for the Haudenosaunee Nationals. “It is always an honor to represent Indigenous People and be able to play alongside the most inspiring women,” said Coulon. “I was able to compete in the 2021 and 2023 Super Sixes, the 2021 and 2023 PALA Sixes, and the 2022 World Games. It has been a dream come true to play and represent my people and culture.”
The indigenous core values define who athletes are and dictates where they are going.
“As I have grown, I have used my platform to find my voice and become an advocate for my people and culture,” said Coulon. “Lacrosse has helped me educate others on our game and other social issues Indigenous people face. I am so grateful to have been a part of teams where the coaches and players want to educate themselves.”
“Now, I am currently an assistant coach at Wagner College where our staff has embraced educating our players on the history of the game and social issues that Indigenous People face. It was such a special moment for me as a coach, seeing my players wear orange in a fall ball tournament for Every Child Matters,” added Coulon.
Student athletes face many challenges or obstacles that they overcome that leads them on their empowered journey.
“The biggest challenge that I overcame was injuries,” said Coulon. “After my freshman year of college, I had to get surgery, and from then on I had to keep battling through injuries for the rest of my college career. I was fortunate to have never been seriously injured when I was younger, but having to be sidelined for eight months, and battle injuries my entire college career was very challenging physically but more so mentally.”
“Not being able to play the sport I love, took a major toll on my mental health. However, it made me even more grateful when I came back and was able to play again. Every opportunity I am able to play I am so grateful and I know that if I play with a clear mind and positive attitude the game will give back to me, and it has in many ways,” added Coulon.
Mentors help guide student athletes to be empowered to lead themselves and others to be successful. Oftentimes family comes first and then coaches follow the student athletes journey.
“I owe everything to my Grandpa, Wayne Coulon,” said Coulon. “When I was young, he explained to me why we played this game. He told me it was to honor and entertain the Creator and in that moment I knew I wanted to play. Hearing how much this game meant to my family and culture, made me feel empowered to pick up a stick. I remember playing catch in his backyard on the Onondaga Reservation. He showed me how to do a behind-the-back shot when I was only in 3rd grade. If it was not for him teaching me about lacrosse, my life would be completely different.”
“All of my coaches, Katie Woods, Jessica Berg, Tim Bomberry, and Elizabeth Beville have played a crucial role in my life, helping me achieve my goals on and off the field,” said Coulon. “They inspire me and push me to be my best self.”
“Lastly, my Haudenosaunee teammates,” said Coulon. “These women have taught me so much on the field but also off the field. It is empowering to hear their stories and the obstacles they overcame. It is an amazing feeling to be surrounded by women who look like you, and share the same passion as you.”
Katie Woods is the head lacrosse coach at UConn. She recruited and coached Jordan at UConn. “I think for me it goes back to my time recruiting her in high school. She was a player that you just enjoyed watching compete … she was aggressive, took risks, and even though she was smaller than some of the other players – she was feisty. She did it all with a competitive smile on her face – you could tell that she was having fun. I knew that she would be a great Husky with her competitive desire.”
“Watching her now several years later and competing with the Haudenosaunee Nationals, you can still see that competitive desire. It’s obvious that she still loves it and is having fun which as her coach, it so fun for me to watch and see her find so much success at this next level,” added Coach Woods.
Jessica Berg was Jordan’s Head Lacrosse Coach at Missouri Western State University when she transferred as a graduate student. Coach Berg said: “Jordan came in as a graduate student athlete on our team. She immediately had a voice and was one of the strongest players on our team. I really noticed Jordan excelling as an athlete and becoming her best when she wasn’t afraid to ruffle feathers with her teammates and say what needed to be said.”
“She consistently spoke up and was willing to say the things that needed to be said that others were afraid to say. An example is calling people out for not putting in 100% effort and expecting better from them. She was the leader that held everyone, including herself, accountable and her team looked up to,” added Coach Berg.
Coach Berg continued to talk about her former athlete: “One story that does come to mind about Jordan reflects her passion for Haudenosaunee Lacrosse and the Creators game. She was so proud of her culture and wanted to bring awareness to the Every Child Matters movement. This is a movement which educates people on the indigenous peoples’ graves being found throughout North America – primarily Canada and Northeast America. She presented the cause to our team and we designated a game to the Every Child Matters movement to educate our friends and families watching.”
Another coach that has guided Jordan was Elizabeth Beville, the Haudenosaunee Nationals 12’s Head Coach. She said, “Jordan is a player whose confidence has grown over the last few years. I was really proud of Jordan’s ability to take a coaching cue and apply it to her game. At the Super Sixes tournament in Canada, Jordan was given feedback and made a change to her dodge on the field that ultimately finished with her scoring a goal.”
Claudia Jimerson is the Director of Women’s Lacrosse Operations for the Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse (HNL).
“I first met Jordan in the tryout process for HNL,” said Claudia Jimerson.
“Jordan was still young and trying out for HNL for the World Championships and World Games. She didn’t make the World Championship roster, but we added her to the World Games roster because she was a good two-way player. That was in 2022. Fast forward to today and she was on both of our sixes rosters for this year and she has done so well. She, too, has grown in confidence; and has had a positive impact on the team.”
“For her to return to tryouts with a positive mindset and the skills to back it up was awesome. She really stood out compared to her tryouts previously, so I know she put the work in herself that she needed. I have no doubt she’ll continue to grow from here and to have two more sixes tournaments under her belt will only help her accelerate her growth,” added Jimerson.
Photo: Jordan Coulon
