Nov 19, 2025
Sarah Chimera
JAMESTOWN — Jamestown Community College announced Sarah Chimera as the new head coach of Jayhawks women’s soccer Tuesday.
“Excited doesn’t begin to explain where I am when it comes to welcoming Coach Chimera back into the fold at JCC, but now as the head coach of our women’s soccer program,” said George Sisson, JCC athletic director. “Her knowledge of the game is only outmatched by the effort and attitude that she brings to the field and to the Jayhawks. We couldn’t be happier with the decision to have Sarah back in the green and gold.”
“I really enjoyed my time as an assistant with JCC,” Chimera said. “For the past nine years, since I left the assistant position, I’ve been coaching my daughter’s team. My journey with that team is just about over, as most of the girls are graduating this year. I love coaching the women’s game and was looking for an opportunity with committed players who want to learn the game at a higher level. JCC seemed like a natural and excellent fit.”
Coach Chimera was an assistant for the Jayhawks from 2013-16, some of the most fruitful times for JCC women’s soccer, including seeing several records broken and dozens of players earn all-conference and all-region recognition.
“I think JCC offers an incredible opportunity for players, especially local ones, to continue to play while getting a great education at an affordable price,” Chimera said. “For those who wish to continue on and play at a four-year school, it gives them the opportunity to transition into the college game and college life while getting plenty of playing time and continuing to develop and hone their skills.”
The four seasons as a Jayhawks assistant are only a small part of Chimera’s coaching experience. She’s been the head coach for the Southern Tier FC/Southern Tier Storm teams since 2016. Before that she had stops with Erie FC, Fredonia High School, Jamestown High School and various other stints on the bench, giving her a wealth of opportunity to build her coaching philosophy.
“My coaching style is player-centric and could best be described as work hard, play hard,” said Chimera. “When we are in work mode, I’m all about focus, discipline, and deliberate effort to achieve the goals that we have set. But when it’s time to play, I believe in celebrating wins (both big and small), recharging, and keeping things fun.”
“I try to always remember what I felt like as a player and make decisions with that in mind,” Chimera added.
Chimera’s playing profile is just as robust as her coaching resume. After graduating from Falconer High School, she went on to play for both High Point University and SUNY Fredonia. The experience of not only playing soccer for those first 22 years of her life but also playing at a high level is what drove Sarah to accept the bench boss position with JCC.
“Playing through my youth, then in college, and now coaching for nearly 30 years, I’ve seen the sport evolve, but the heart of it has always stayed the same: teamwork, discipline, resilience and joy. Soccer taught me how to lead and how to follow, how to fail and get back up, and how to push beyond what I thought I was capable of,” Chimera said. “As a coach, what means the most to me now is watching my players discover those same lessons. Seeing a player finally grasp a skill they’ve been working on or a team come together and truly play for each other — that’s the magic of it. While wins and losses are key, helping players find confidence, love the game, and carry lessons learned on the field into their lives are equally important.”
While Chimera has dedicated herself to the regional soccer scene for over 30 years, she spends her time away from the pitch with a simple motto: Family, Faith, and Fitness, along with a little bit of photography when time allows.
Time is something Chimera has a little bit of before the 2026 JCC women’s soccer season, which begins next August.
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