Jacksonville High hires alum Jacey Maul as girls soccer coach

Jacksonville High turned to one of its own, hiring 2014 graduate Jacey Maul as its next girls soccer coach after Drew Comstock stepped down following six seasons. The move keeps the program in familiar hands and gives Jacksonville School District 117 a coach who knows the school, the community and the expectations that come with representing the Crimsons.

Comstock resigned to pursue a new job opportunity, ending a run that lasted through six seasons at Jacksonville High. MaxPreps still listed him as head coach in its June 18 update, underscoring how recently the transition took shape for a program that has remained visible in the local sports conversation. Jacksonville’s girls soccer team was ranked No. 206 in Illinois and No. 70 in Illinois 2A in that update.

The roster data also show the players Maul will inherit. Freshman Madalyn DeFrates led the team with 20 goals in the available snapshot, while senior goalkeeper Chloe Kuhn posted a 2.202 goals-against average and 3.7 saves per match. Those numbers give the new coach a clear starting point as she looks at returning production, goalkeeper play and where the program can grow after a season that mixed individual scoring with uneven results.

Jacksonville’s final results before the coaching change reflected that same split. The Crimsons beat Alton 3-0 on May 16, 2026, then fell 0-7 to Springfield on May 19, 2026. With Maul taking over, that swing in results becomes part of the backdrop for the next phase of the program, as players move from one coach’s system to another and prepare for offseason training.

Jacksonville High School athletics operates out of 1211 North Diamond Street in Jacksonville, placing the girls soccer program squarely within the school’s broader athletic structure and the community that follows it closely. For a program that carries school pride into conference play and tournament season, the return of an alum gives the hire a distinctly local feel.