Meet new Cal State Long Beach assistant women’s soccer coach Cheyenne Spade
LONG BEACH, Calif. — “I am a new neighbor,” says Cheyenne Spade, “arriving recently from Pennsylvania.” With her, Cheyenne brings her soccer expertise in her new role as assistant women’s soccer coach at Cal State Long Beach, as well as her adventurous and outdoorsy spirit that so aligns with our coastal neighborhoods.
Cheyenne grew up in “the idyllic countryside of Pennsylvania, a beautiful land of streams and woods, pastures and farm animals, simple life and hard work.” She enjoyed her upbringing there, her childhood characterized by “acres of freedom.” But as Cheyenne discovered her passions, her hometown’s “placid exterior was never able to conceal my competitive spirit,” she explains.
As many of us do, Cheyenne began her soccer career at age five. But for her, it soon ranked above all else. “I played many sports and was competitive in everything I did,” she remembers, “but soccer made me smile.” Soccer balances both the physical and mental making it more fun. “I enjoyed the physical exertion and the precision, the discipline that still allowed for creativity, and the shared experience of celebrating with teammates,” says Cheyenne. “I enjoyed the beauty of the game, but mostly I liked to win.” Her competitive spirit and affinity for hard work carried her through high school, college, and professional teams and have since brought her to coaching.
“Of course playing soccer is more fun,” Cheyenne says of her job, “but now I’ve realized I get to move the chess pieces.” From her perspective on the sidelines, she now views the game as a puzzle, and she gets to “decide where the pieces go.” Cheyenne feels she has learned a number of life lessons through her sport and is passionate about sharing those with the young women she coaches. She reminds herself to “do everything to the best of your ability for the right reasons all the time,” and inspires her athletes to do the same “As a coach, teaching young women about the value of hard work, teamwork, discipline, sacrifice for the good of a group, fair play, and sportsmanship is a worthwhile enterprise,” she expresses. “And in the end, the exhilaration of a winning goal is the same for a player or a coach.”
While work brought her to the area, Long Beach seems to be the perfect fit for Cheyenne. “This part of California has an awful lot going for it,” Cheyenne notes. “Every day people are outside enjoying themselves,” which is precisely what Cheyenne likes to do as well. She loves to be active, and Long Beach offers a myriad of activities very nearby. “Pickleball, surfing, cycling, kite flying—there are too many activities to name.” And even further, life on the Peninsula has been nothing short of ideal. “After a few months here on the Peninsula, I am really enjoying my new lifestyle,” says Cheyenne. “My neighbors are friendly, the weather perfect, and the pace of life is as relaxing or active as I want it to be.” She’s a short bike ride from any of these physical activities and more, or a few mere steps to the beach to “relax with my morning coffee as the sun reflects off the sea.”
As Cheyenne continues to explore all that the surrounding area has to offer, she maintains her appreciation for the beauty of life in countless other respects. “I enjoy cooking and sitting down to a beautifully prepared meal,” she says. With affinities for both whiskey and wine, she can be found “nosing a glass of Cabernet Franc, observing the legs as the wine swirls around a beautiful glass,” or “discerning the distinction between a single malt whisky aged in bourbon barrels versus one aged in Madeira casks.” With people, Cheyenne enjoys “thoughtful conversation,” appreciates “the value of a close friendship,” and the fact that “we all share the same planet, and sometimes cooperation is better than competition.”
“Long Beach is a beautiful place to be,” Cheyenne feels. Having “the Pacific Ocean steps from my door is quite a plus,” but the neighborhood offers so much more than that. “I love the diversity and quality of life in a town with a university, but the Peninsula specifically offers a sense of community and security not unlike the small towns where I grew up.” In short, it provides the perfect balance. Cheyenne’s fresh eyes provide those she meets with a renewed appreciation for all we have here.
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