ST. LOUIS, MO (October 13, 2009) – On August 19, Ashlee Pistorius’ first year as a professional soccer player came to an end. Saint Louis Athletica had lost 1-0 to Sky Blue FC in the WPS Super Semifinal, and the Athletica players had a long off-season staring them in the face. Some players would be going on-loan abroad to continue playing; while others would resume coaching duties; while still others would be returning to finish college degrees.

Ashlee Pistorius only knew that she would be marrying her high school sweetheart, Josh Slayback, on September 6 in Bloomington, IL. Past that date, the future was cloudy and uncertain. Pistorius could not possibly imagine that in the next two months she would find herself with not one, but two new jobs. Both of which she would be offered in the span of just one week.

The first bit of good news was that Pistorius was offered the job of Manager of Camp Operations by St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. Pistorius will now work in an office that is just steps away from the field that she played on as a professional for Athletica.

Pistorius’ duties will include setting the dates, picking the locations, marketing the camps, and recruiting the players to participate. Pistorius was in process of looking for a job when St. Louis Scott Gallagher’s Executive Director, Mark Santel called to ask her if she would be interested in the open position with the club.

Now Pistorius will work for the club she once played for as a teenager. Pistorius joined the then Busch Soccer Club when she was in 8th grade and commuted to The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in St. Louis three times a week from her home in Bloomington, IL. Bill Hopfinger and Steve Parton were Pistorius’ coaches during the first four years of her Busch career. Coaches Steve Pecher and Bill McDermott assisted Coach Hopfinger in her final year before Pistorius departed for Texas A&M University.

With one job in her back pocket the Athletica forward received the news she was waiting to hear - she was going to be a head coach. Ursuline Academy’s Athletic Director Jen Brooks contacted Pistorius after receiving her resume. Two interviews later Ashlee Pistorius was offered the reigns of Ursuline’s varsity program.

“I had heard that a few high school opportunities existed so I was looking for a job that would let me coach and teach. Being a teacher has always been a goal of mine,” said Pistorius.

Coaching is not new to Pistorius. She coached several youth teams while playing at Texas A&M and that experience combined with her playing experience led her to establish her core principles that she will now use as a head coach in high school.

“I gave my team three objectives. Be in shape, be hard working, and be technically sound,” said the new Ursuline Academy head coach. “I want to see our players improve; their passion for the game come out; and as a coach I want to know they are having fun everyday coming out to practice. From my experience at the various levels I have played, you have to enjoy the game in order to improve and succeed.”

Pistorius chose Mike Lagow to be her assistant coach. She handpicked Lagow from the St. Louis Scott Gallagher coaching ranks to help her re-launch the once proud program in Kirkwood, MO.

2009 was and continues to be a busy year for this 23-year old. Not only did she play and practice for Athletica for the past six months she also had to plan her wedding, which was scheduled for just two weeks after the season ended.

Pistorius’ wedding featured bridesmaids that were all former teammates of hers. She and Josh then spent their honeymoon in Playa del Carmen, Mexico before returning home to St. Louis where the couple have started looking for a home.

The couple decided to move to St. Louis early in 2009 when Ashlee made Athletica’s final cut. She had participated in the WPS combine in Florida and had been on the radar of the coaching staff in St. Louis. Josh left his position, as groundskeeper for the Houston Texans, to come to St. Louis with his then fiancée. Josh now works for the City of Clayton managing Shaw Park’s athletic facilities. Ashlee and Josh will be laying their roots in St. Louis and for good reason.

“We plan to make St. Louis our permanent home,” said Pistorius. “Josh and I are currently looking for a starter home, and we are just excited to be settling into our news jobs and into a great community.”

Not many people start a new job, and find out they have been hired for a second job in the same week. Yet, if you look at the year Ashlee Pistorius had in 2009, it should come as no surprise. The player who commuted to play soccer three times a week; who played NCAA Division I soccer and basketball; and who was a pro athlete while planning a wedding and moving to a new city will now be a fixture in St. Louis soccer for years to come.