Jane Alukonis, a former UCLA assistant coach who was a standout player at Duke, was named head coach of the USC women’s soccer program on January 20, 2022

The 33-year-old Alukonis (pronounced ah-loo-KO-nis) spent the last four years (2018-21) as an assistant at UCLA, where she helped guide the Bruins to two Pac-12 Championships and an NCAA College Cup appearance. She becomes the fifth head coach in the history of USC women’s soccer.

With Alukonis on staff, UCLA made four straight NCAA postseason appearances and recorded eight NCAA tournament wins, including a run to the 2019 College Cup after an NCAA quarterfinal finish in 2018. The Bruins won back-to-back Pac-12 Championships (2020 and 2021) and never finished lower than second in the conference standings during Alukonis' tenure in Westwood. The UCLA staff was named the Pacific Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2020.

In addition to producing six All-Americans, 16 All-Region selections and 26 All-Conference honors over the last four years, Alukonis and the Bruins also had three players earn Pac-12 Positional Player of the Year honors during her tenure and saw nine players selected in the NWSL Draft.

Alukonis holds a UEFA B Coaching license and served as head coach of the Space Coast United U-10, U-11 and U-16 girls club team and as an assistant coach of the U-15 boys team from 2014 to 2018. She most recently coached the 2010 Pre - ECNL LA Breakers and 2012 White LA Breakers teams. Prior to coaching, Alukonis taught for three years (2011-14) in Baltimore City as part of the program Teach for America.

A four-year starter at Duke from 2006 to 2009, Alukonis started 76 of her 84 career matches and tallied five goals, including one game-winner, and 11 assists for 21 points. Duke qualified for the NCAA tournament each year, twice advancing to the quarterfinals.  She was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III and All-ACC Academic Team selection as a senior team captain with the Blue Devils and finished her standout career as a four-time ACC Honor Roll selection. Alukonis received the ACC Top Six for Service Award as a senior for her volunteer efforts at Duke. Competing as both a defender and midfielder during her playing career, Alukonis also played in the U.S. Youth National Team system, seeing time with both the U-16 and U-17 squads.

She returned to her alma mater in 2015 and 2016 as the director of operations for the Blue Devils.

Alukonis graduated from Duke in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology, along with a minor in psychology. In 2011, she earned a master's degree of philosophy in social and developmental psychology with honors at the University of Cambridge.

She was a two-time All-American at Melbourne (Fla.) Central Catholic High, helping her team to a pair of state championships.

She was born on July 18, 1988.