McCoy MBA student shines for soccer team

Juana Plata lives dream with Bobcats

By Maya Hicks
_{Staff Writer, Marketing and Communications}
^{McCoy College of Business}

SAN MARCOS, Texas — What started out as simple admiration and excitement for a young Hispanic girl, has turned into a notable early career and reputation as an outstanding soccer player. Juana Plata has not only managed to dazzle soccer fans on the field but also excel in graduate studies at the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University.

Growing up in Houston, Plata would watch her mother and father play soccer. However, she had never really paid much attention to it until her dad bought her a soccer ball and put her on her first club team for her 12th birthday. Although the game started out as a hobby, it quickly turned into a passion for Plata, and she eventually decided that she wanted to play soccer professionally one day. She now wears the number 12 not only for Texas State University but also for the El Salvador select women’s soccer team.

Playing at Texas State

Plata’s coach at Texas State, Steve Holeman, describes Plata as “friendly, committed and talented.” Holeman recruited Plata out of high school to join him at Lamar University. He says that her recruitment video stood out for her speed and “a very good left foot.” In the years to come, he would spend time helping her hone her skills, and eventually move her from forward to left back, where Plata has blossomed. 

When Coach Holeman made the decision to move from Lamar University to Texas State, Plata decided to move with him, and the Texas State women’s soccer team has continued to thrive. With an overall record of 10-2-2 so far this season — first in the Sun Belt Conference West Division at 4-1-1 — it’s clear the team is flourishing under Coach Holeman’s leadership, and with the addition of Plata to the roster.

El Salvador Select Team

As soon as Juana Plata heard about the recruitment for the El Salvador select team, she knew she had to apply. Being of Salvadorian descent on her mother’s side, she knew it was not only a good opportunity to gain experience but also to honor her and her mother’s heritage. As soon as she sent in her film, the coaches knew Plata was perfect for their team. 

As a result, Plata has had a chance to do what she loves and travel the world doing it. She’s had the privilege of playing in Panama, the Dominican Republic, Belize, and Aruba, and she couldn’t be happier. “It’s been the best experience ever: literally just eat, sleep, soccer and I love it. It’s my dream honestly,” Plata says.

When she’s getting ready for a game, she likes to jam out to Bad Bunny or Red Hot Chili Peppers while drinking Celsius and amping up her energy. “Everyone on the team is really motivating and supportive and we kind of hype each other up all the time. We’re super excited to keep up this winning streak and hopefully bring in the conference title.” To celebrate a win, she typically just enjoys a nice meal with her family.

MBA at McCoy

Playing professional soccer in Europe is Plata’s ultimate goal, but she also realizes how important her studies are. She is a graduate student in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) flex program at McCoy College. While she confesses that balancing everything can be a little difficult at times, she admits that she enjoys staying busy, and finds keeping a detailed planner has contributed to much of her success. 

“I like to plan out my days, so from this time to this time I’m going to study,” Plata says. “I know exactly how much time I’m spending at practice, and then I can sort of plan what I need to do around that and my class schedule. It’s a lot of planning and then making sure I stick to that schedule.”

However, Plata also credits much of her success to the support and sacrifices of her family. “I’m just really grateful for everything I’ve gotten to experience. I know that none of this would be possible if my parents hadn’t immigrated here and made the sacrifices that they did so that I could be successful.” She has an extremely close relationship with her family, who attend every single one of Plata’s home games, despite living in Houston.

She hopes to encourage any aspiring soccer players to keep pushing through all the obstacles, and to never let someone tell you what you can or can’t accomplish. If she could give any piece of advice it would be to “work hard and love what you do. It sounds cliché, but honestly, if you’re going to put in all that work you gotta have love for the game.”

Plata will be graduating with her MBA this December. Once she has walked the stage, she plans to immediately start pursuing her professional soccer career. ✯

For more information, email Twister Marquiss, manager of marketing and communications for the McCoy College of Business, at twister@txstate.edu.

About the McCoy College of Business
Established in 1970, Texas State’s business school officially became the McCoy College of Business in 2004 following a donation of $20 million by Emmett and Miriam McCoy. The college, which offers classes in both San Marcos and Round Rock, is accredited by AACSB in both business and accounting, and has graduated nearly 42,000 alumni.