BSU picked as United Soccer Coaches Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year

The Bemidji State University soccer coaching staff of been selected as the United Soccer Coaches 2021 Division II Central Region Staff of the Year.

The Beavers, led by Head Coach Jim Stone and assisted by Mike Korman and Julian Licata, were one of 60 staffs (30 men’s and 30 women’s) across all three NCAA Divisions to receive Regional Staff of the Year honors. In addition, the Regional Staffs of the Year recipients have been placed on the ballot for United Soccer Coaches National Staff of the Year consideration within their respective NCAA division.

Bemidji State is in the midst of one of the finest seasons in program history. At 19-1-3 overall and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Regular-Season Champions with an unblemished 13-0-2 mark in league play, the Beavers are made the NCAA Division II Tournament for the third time in program history. BSU won its first- and second-round matchups for the first time in program history and will face the University of Central Missouri in the Central Region Championship, Dec. 3.

BSU has already set program records for wins (19) and winning percentage (.891), while it established new marks for shutouts (14), and assists (53), while BSU’s 50 goals and 153 points, as well as 38 points, allowed rank second in program history. In addition, as a team, the Beavers assembled a program record shutout streak 672:09 and a program record for wins at home (13), while the team established a new record 24-match unbeaten streak stretching from April 12 to Nov. 14, 2021.

Stone, the 2021 NSIC Coach of the Year, has led the Beavers to 17 consecutive seasons with at least a .500 winning percentage and to postseason play in 11 consecutive seasons, which includes NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018, 2019, and this season. He has coached 85 All-NSIC selections, 36 all-region picks, and six all-Americans, while his teams are consistently recognized for academic success including conference, regional and national awards, including four CoSIDA Academic All-America selections and Anna Fobbe being named Academic All-American of the Year in 2018.

Bemidji State (19-1-3; 13-0-2 NSIC) garnered a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and opened play sixth-seeded Central Oklahoma University in the Central Region’s first round. The Beavers and Bronchos played to a scoreless tie, but BSU advanced to the second round winning in penalty kicks, 5-3. BSU then defeated Emporia State University, 1-0, to advance to the third round of the national tournament for the first time in program history and establish a BSU record for wins in a season.

The Beavers will now face Central Missouri Dec. 3 in Allendale, Mich. The third-round match is set to begin and 10 a.m.