Lessons From Coach Alex
By Nahla Dominguez
It’s not every day that someone walks into your life and changes the course of it forever.
But for me, that person was Coach Alex Islas.
I was just six years old when I first met him. At the time, soccer wasn’t a serious commitment—it was more like something fun to do after school or on weekends. I liked it, but I didn’t see it as anything more than a hobby.
That changed the winter of 2010.
My cousins were playing futsal, and their coach—Coach Alex—invited me to join. I still remember lacing up my indoor shoes, stepping into that gym, and instantly sensing that something about this experience would be different.
It wasn’t just the sport—it was the people.
Everyone on the team looked like me. Everyone spoke Spanish, just like at home. For the first time, I felt like I belonged on a team in every sense of the word.
And at the heart of that community was Coach Alex.
He wasn’t just organizing practices and games. He was creating a space where kids like me could thrive—not just as players, but as people.
Looking back now, I can see clearly that Coach Alex wasn’t just my coach.
He became a mentor—a guiding light in my life.
He’s someone whose presence still shapes the way I play, think, and live to this day.
A Lesson in Inclusivity
I wasn’t particularly good when I first joined the team—futsal moves fast, and I was just starting out.
But Coach Alex never made me feel less than.
He didn’t care if you were a beginner or a star. If you showed up and gave it your all, he welcomed you with open arms. He believed in inclusivity before I even knew what that word meant.
Coach Alex would intentionally pair me with older, more experienced players—one of whom was his daughter, Jacelyn.
I idolized her.
She was strong, skilled, confident—everything I wanted to be. And she always had time for me, always offered encouragement, just like her dad.
I didn’t know it then, but those early days with Coach Alex and Jacelyn were foundational moments in my life—ones that would eventually lead me to college soccer.
But Coach Alex didn’t just coach teams and build my confidence—he built communities.
Through the leagues he ran in North Chicago, he brought together families, kids, and cultures.
His fields weren’t reserved for elite club players or those who could afford expensive uniforms. If you had a ball and a love for the game, that was enough.
His leagues celebrated who we were—Latino kids with dreams, energy, and a shared language. It was a space where we felt seen and supported, not just as athletes but as human beings.
When Coach Alex was diagnosed with Lymphatic cancer, it was like the heart of our soccer family was hurting. And yet, even as he battled his illness, he never lost his joy.
He still smiled. He still joked around. He still showed up.
He even sent me cake on my birthday.
That’s who he was.
When he passed away last year, it was the hardest day of my life. But at his funeral, I saw just how much love surrounded him. It brought together countless former players, parents, and friends—all of us connected by the community he had spent a lifetime building.
That day, I realized something simple but powerful: everything I love about soccer—everything I’ve learned, every relationship I’ve built—it all began with Coach Alex.
A Lesson in Perseverance
One of Coach Alex’s favorite phrases was “No te rindas,” or “don’t give up.”
It’s a lesson that stuck with me, especially during one of the most challenging moments of my college career.
In the fall of 2022, I entered the transfer portal. It was a time filled with uncertainty and self-doubt. I questioned whether I wanted to keep playing, whether I still had it in me.
But then I thought of Coach Alex and how he always pushed me to believe in myself and fight for what I love.
I went back to Chase Park, the home of his leagues, and kicked a ball around just like I used to.
For a little while, I felt like that six-year-old girl again—carefree, passionate, grounded.
It reminded me why I fell in love with the game in the first place.
Because of him, I didn’t give up.
When he passed away last year, it was the hardest day of my life. But at his funeral, I saw just how much love surrounded him. It brought together countless former players, parents, and friends—all of us connected by the community he had spent a lifetime building. That day, I realized something simple but powerful: everything I love about soccer—everything I’ve learned, every relationship I’ve built—it all began with Coach Alex.
A Lesson in Community
There’s a specific kind of joy that comes from playing the game you love while staying true to yourself.
That’s what Coach Alex gave me.
He taught me that futsal is more than a sport. It’s an expression of creativity, of quick thinking, of joy. My style today still reflects those roots: fast, technical, imaginative.
Also, being a girl in a male-dominated sport wasn’t always easy. But Jacelyn’s presence and Coach Alex’s support made me believe that I could be just as strong and just as skilled as anyone else on the field.
His leagues were a melting pot of cultures, backgrounds, and styles. But his personality—charismatic, funny, loving—made everyone feel like they belonged.
To this day, I’m still close with his family.
They’re not just people I used to play soccer with.
They’re family.
They always will be.
A Lesson on Living Life
Now, as a senior at DePaul, every time I step onto the field, I carry Coach Alex with me.
I work hard. I stay humble. I remember where I came from.
Most of all, I try to give back—to younger players, to my teammates, to my community.
Because that’s what he did.
That’s the legacy he left behind.
Coach Alex didn’t care about fame or accolades. He cared about people. He built leagues for kids who didn’t have access to club soccer. He gave them a place to dream, to belong, to grow.
He was more than a coach. He was a leader, a friend, and a role model.
And for me, he was the beginning of everything.
So as I close out my college career and think about what’s next, I know one thing for sure: I’ll keep carrying his spirit with me in whatever I pursue.
Because Coach Alex didn’t just teach me how to play soccer.
He taught me how to live, be humble, and to never give up.
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