ATLANTA – The metro Atlanta youth soccer world is reeling after the unexpected passing of Shelly Hoddeson, a celebrated coach, former collegiate player, and one of the most recognizable figures in Georgia girls’ soccer over the past two decades.
Hoddeson, 38, died suddenly earlier this week, leaving hundreds of current and former players, parents, and fellow coaches in shock during what was already an emotional holiday season.
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A standout defender on the groundbreaking GSA 85 team that became the first Georgia girls’ club squad to win a national championship in 2001 under legendary coach Ted Colburn, Hoddeson went on to play at both the University of South Carolina and the University of Georgia. After her playing career, she returned to the Atlanta area and poured the same fire and empathy into coaching that had defined her as an athlete.
“She had this rare gift,” said one parent whose daughter played under Hoddeson at NASA Tophat Academy. “She could push you harder than you thought possible, then make you feel like you were the only kid on the field who mattered. That combination changed lives.”
By day, Hoddeson worked as Property Care Manager for Plants Creative Landscapes and ran her own successful horticulture business, SEC Gardens, but evenings and weekends belonged to the pitch. Players and families described practice sessions filled with her trademark laugh, relentless attention to detail, and an insistence that effort and kindness were non-negotiable.
NASA Tophat leadership confirmed Hoddeson’s passing in a letter to club families, writing: “Coach Shelly brought light everywhere she went. The fields feel darker today.”
Longtime friend Tim Tuveson posted a heartfelt tribute on social media: “There are no words big enough for this kind of goodbye.
The memories, though—them we get to keep forever.”
The ripple effect of losing a coach of Hoddeson’s stature extends beyond any single club. Youth sports psychologists note that mentor figures often serve as de facto community anchors, shaping not just athletic development but confidence, resilience, and social bonds for hundreds of adolescents at a critical age.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek, with a Rosary service at 10:00 a.m. The family has welcomed the entire soccer community to attend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are being directed to a memorial fund that will support college scholarships for female soccer players in Georgia—fitting tribute to a woman who spent her life growing both gardens and dreams.
As teams return to training fields this week, many plan to wear black armbands and observe a moment of silence before kickoff.
One simple truth echoes from Roswell to Alpharetta: Shelly Hoddeson’s impact will be felt every time a young player ties her cleats a little tighter, lifts a teammate who’s down, or refuses to give up on a lost cause.
The coach who taught them how to compete with joy is gone far too soon, but the lessons—and the love—remain eternal.