Just 13 months after the Suffolk, England native was named the first head coach in club history, Balaam was voted top of the class by her peers. The honor comes after a historic 16-win regular season as the league’s sole expansion club.
The inaugural campaign also yielded countless awards for Balaam’s players, including six All-League selections, Golden Playmaker and more. Many of these players were also playing their first season of professional soccer. A former player herself, Balaam helped guide these young newcomers to incredible heights in year one.
“Stacey has done a tremendous job in her first year in the position and has fully earned this award,” Sporting JAX President of Soccer Mark Warburton said. “She has established both a winning culture and a winning mentality and the team have responded accordingly. Stacey, her staff and of course the players, deserve all of the plaudits that will inevitably come their way!”
The 2025/26 season marked Balaam’s first time serving in a professional coaching role. Prior to Sporting JAX, she spent time in the collegiate ranks at the University of North Georgia, the University of West Georgia and Vanderbilt University most recently.
“This season has been an incredible journey full of moments I'll never forget,” Balaam said. “This award reflects the players and how much they bought into and stuck to our identity. I would like to dedicate this award to them and of course all of my technical and support staff who have worked tirelessly throughout the year to help us achieve this success.”
Fans can learn more by visiting sportingjax.com, and can stay connected with the latest news, matchday updates, and behind-the-scenes stories by following @Sporting_JAX across all social platforms.
About Sporting Club Jacksonville (Sporting JAX)
Sporting Club Jacksonville, or “Sporting JAX,” was established in 2020 by a passionate group of Jacksonville-based owners and is driven by a bold vision to elevate the area’s soccer scene and “Lift Every Voice,” the club’s motto. Named in collaboration with the First Coast community in 2023, the club launched its women’s professional Gainbridge Super League club in 2025 and debuted its men’s professional USL Championship club in March of 2026. Sporting JAX will also spearhead the development of a 15,000-capacity community stadium and training facilities, positioning the First Coast as the new premier destination for soccer excellence. For more information, visit www.sportingjax.com.
