Northwest women’s soccer coach Beattie again Region 23 Coach of the Year
SENATOBIA, Miss. — James Beattie, the highly successful head coach of the Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s soccer team, has been named the Region 23 Coach of the Year for an unprecedented third consecutive season. The recognition follows Beattie’s guidance of the Rangers to their third straight Region 23 championship, cementing their status as a regional powerhouse.
Under Beattie’s tenure, the Northwest women’s soccer program has achieved remarkable consistency and dominance. Over the last three seasons, the Rangers boast an astonishing overall record of 60-1-3. Their recent campaign included a commanding stretch that extended their winning streak to 33 consecutive matches and their unbeaten streak to 34. This year’s squad has also been defensively sound, racking up 10 shutouts while maintaining an explosive offense that scored three or more goals in all but four games.
“This award means a lot, not just from an individual standpoint, but also a team standpoint, that we have been able to sustain a level of success and consistency over the last few years,” Beattie said. “Working with such great groups and staffs over these last three years has made the past seasons a joy to be a part of.”
Beattie credited the integral support of his full-time assistant, Brandon Boren, highlighting the synergy of their partnership. “BB obviously has been key to everything. We are very different in almost every way, which I think is really good for the group. The balance of personalities within the coaching staff is key.”
The coaching staff’s success has translated into exceptional individual achievements. Over the last two seasons, the program has produced six NJCAA All-Americans, with more anticipated from the current roster. This year, the Rangers featured two of the top five scorers in MACCC play: Emma Jensen, who led the conference with 27 goals and eight assists, and Caroline Perkins, who ranked third with 16 goals and 10 assists.
Beattie also emphasized the critical role of institutional support, specifically citing Northwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Michael J. Heindl.
“Dr. Heindl has been a massive part of the last three seasons, and the team absolutely loves him! From my standpoint, he is a fantastic modern leader, and without this type of leadership at the college, we wouldn’t be able to do what we love every day to the level we do it,” Beattie stated. “The support the administration gives to us from an academic, financial, and student services standpoint is huge.”
The Rangers are now set to compete on the national stage. They will travel to Wichita, Kansas, this weekend to begin play in the 2025 NJCAA Division II National Tournament, starting Sunday morning. The team will learn their seeding and pool play opponents Tuesday afternoon.
