DeKALB – NIU Athletics and women’s soccer head coach Michael O’Neill welcomed Taryn Jakubowski as a volunteer assistant on the women’s soccer coaching staff on Wednesday.

Jakubowski played four years with Creighton University and served as the team captain in 2019. She was also named as a member of the Big East All-Freshman team in 2016, as well as an All-Big East First Team honoree in 2018 and ‘19.

“I feel truly grateful and honored to start this next adventure in my soccer journey and to be part of a program which has already established a respectable and upstanding culture,” Jakubowski said. “I’m excited to be working alongside such knowledgeable coaches and talented players to help cultivate a program as well as leading these Huskie women to success both on and off the field.”

Jakubowski also brings two years of professional experience to NIU, playing overseas in Finland for Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) of the Finnish First Division in 2021 and ‘22. During her time in Finland, Jakubowski won the league title with KuPS and helped them qualify for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League.

O’Neill expressed his excitement with the addition of Jakubowski to his staff.

“Her experiences at Creighton along with her professional career in Finland will be a great asset to our program,” O’Neill said. “Taryn is extremely passionate about the game and has a great understanding of how she can impact our student-athletes in the best possible way.”

Jakubowski has roots locally in the Chicagoland area, a former Lake in the Hills resident. She played club soccer with Chicago Sockers FC, and attended Huntley High School. At Huntley, Jakubowski helped the team to a fourth place finish in the Class 3A state women’s soccer tournament in 2016. In the same year, Jakubowski also received the honor of the Northwest Herald Player of the Year.