For newly-hired NIU women’s soccer coach Marci Miller, last week was a busy one.

Miller began her assignment June 15, but barely had time to adjust to her new office before flying out to Virginia Sunday to take part in the United States national team’s selection camp.

In the midst of settling into her new Convocation Center office, Miller took the time to talk about her goals for the NIU women’s soccer team, handling a marriage and being star-struck.

Northern Star: How have the first few days at the office been?

Marci Miller: It’s been great. Obviously, a little bit hectic trying to get things done. I have a lot to learn, but I’m so excited.

NS: Did you expect to make the jump to a Division I head coach position at such a young age?

MM: The way I am with life is I don’t really expect things. I go for things. I believe in myself and go for things. That’s how I was as a player and that’s how I am as a coach.

NS: But the opportunity has to be pretty exciting.

MM: It’s extremely exciting. I feel very lucky and blessed to have the opportunity. I know that I’m going to put everything I have into it.

NS: Do you have your own coaching style that you’ll implement, or will that wait until you see the team play to determine that?

MM: I do have a style, no matter what type of players I have. I believe in taking care of the things we can control: work rate, fitness and camaraderie. I’m going to make sure those are things we can achieve during the first year. I think that’s important no matter what type of players you’re working with.

NS: Have you met any of the players yet?

MM: So far a couple of the girls have stopped by and I’ve talked to all of them on the phone.

NS: You hired your husband, Paul Jobsen, as your assistant. Is it ever a problem balancing a work relationship with a marriage relationship?

MM: If you have a good marriage, you’d better work well together. When I played for the [Atlanta] Beat, he coached for the Beat. Paul is great at the administrative side of soccer. He’s great at all those things and he’s a great coach, so he’s an ideal co-partner.

NS: Do you think it will be hard to separate the two relationships?

MM: There are always challenges when you’re married and work together, but it’s important to communicate – when you leave the office, the priority is your marriage. Even if I hired an assistant I didn’t know as well, there are challenges there, too. With Paul, I know we’ll be on the same page and not trying to get each other’s’ jobs.

NS: You’ve had a lot of soccer experiences as a player and coach. Is there one instance you feel most proud of?

MM: The times I’m most proud of are the times I overcame adversity. For example, my first year [being] pro, I shattered my jaw and a couple months later, tore my ACL. I still tried to be a part of the team. Some of the times I’m most proud of are the times I didn’t play a lot and just tried to be a good teammate.

NS: In 1997, you were called up to play for the U.S. national team to play against France. Was that a bit overwhelming?

MM: I remember when I was called up to that camp, I was extremely nervous, working out four times a day to get ready. At that time, they were all players I’d looked up to as a kid. Now, a lot of the players are people I played against in college. So now, there’s not as much nervousness at being star-struck. Now it’s more respect.