Note: Once a month isubengals.com will spotlight Bengal alumni who are making a difference. Today's feature is on Korbie Vaughan who played for the soccer team from 1998-2001.
POCATELLO, Idaho – Korbie Vaughan wasn't planning on playing college soccer. Sure, she had the talent and drive, but there weren't too many established programs in the late '90s and she figured she might as well make some money during her college career.
"At the time I was going to college, there wasn't a team at Idaho State, and I actually went away to be a nanny," Vaughan said. "I thought nannying would be a good experience, and it would get me away and help to pay for things."
Vaughan, a native of Pocatello, wasn't meant to be away for long. When former Head Coach Gordon Henderson arrived in 1998 for the inaugural season of Bengal soccer, Vaughan wasn't far behind.
"When Gordon came in and established the program, I spoke with him and decided to come back," Vaughan said. "So that's what brought me back: soccer."
During ISU's inaugural season in 1998, Vaughan started all 17 contests as a freshman at midfield and finished the season with six shots including two on goal. The Bengals finished 2-14-1 overall in that first season, but Vaughan was instrumental in helping build the Bengal program over the next three seasons.
In 1999, Idaho State finished 7-9-3 and in 2000 improved once more to 12-5-2. By the 2001 season, Vaughan was a stalwart for the Bengals, having started 53 career games with two goals and two assists in three seasons. And Vaughan's final season in 2001 proved to be the most successful as she helped the Bengals win the Big Sky Conference Championship and earn their first-ever trip to the NCAA College Cup.
"Winning the Big Sky in 2001 was an amazing experience," Vaughan said. "It was quite an accomplishment from our inaugural season having won only a few games to winning the conference in just four years. Going to the NCAA tournament was a dream come true, even if we didn't get past the first round."
The Bengals faced a formidable opponent in the University of Portland, a consistent leader in NCAA women's college soccer. Idaho State lost the game 5-0 but set a high standard of excellence for the future of the Bengal program. Since winning the Big Sky in 2001 the Bengals have captured the conference title four more times: in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2012.
Following the 2001 season, Vaughan graduated from Idaho State with a degree in elementary education and began teaching third grade a Chubbuck Elementary. This fall marked the start of her 15th year working for the school.
"I decided to go in to elementary education at a young age," Vaughan said. "It was always something that I wanted to do, and I love working with kids."
Soccer has continually played a role in Vaughan's life. She just started her sixth season as the head coach for the Highland High School girls' soccer team, and she's also been coaching all three of her kids in area youth soccer. Regardless of the age of her players, they will all hear about the most valuable lessons Vaughan learned as a player.
"I tell this to my players all the time: what my coach taught me on the field has had a huge impact on who I've become as a person," Vaughan said. "The lessons that I learned out there on the pitch I use in my life all the time. Being proactive, working hard, pushing through and being able to accomplish hard things."
