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James Beattie
James Beattie is entering his fourth season as the head women's soccer coach at Northwest. During his time with the Lady Rangers, Beattie has brought a wide range of coaching and playing experience stretching from both the collegiate to professional soccer ranks.
The Glasgow, Scotland native played collegiate soccer at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Oklahoma City University. Beattie scored 40 goals and tabbed 41 assists, while compiling a record of 54-15-2 throughout his four year collegiate career. He was a four-time First Team All-Conference player and was a two-time First Team All-American. Before arriving in the United States, Beattie was a professional footballer for Partick Thistle FC and is a graduate of the prestigious Queens Park Football Club professional youth academy.
Last season was yet another historical one for Beattie and the Lady Rangers, as Northwest reached the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship tournament for the first time in program history. The Lady Rangers proved they belonged, winning Pool D of the tournament, which included a thrilling 2-1 double overtime victory against Pima (Ariz.). Northwest reached the semifinals of the tournament, falling 2-0 to eventual national champion Phoenix College.
Northwest finished with a 15-2-3 record in 2022, matching the program's win total from the year before. The Lady Rangers climbed into the NJCAA's Top 10 national rankings early last season and never left, finishing the season undefeated at home and earning a runner-up finish in the MACCC/NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.
Seven members of Beattie's club earned All-MACCC recognition last season, including NJCAA and United Soccer Coaches' First Team All-American Jennifer Enriquez. Arguably one of the most decorated women's soccer athletes in the program's history, Enriquez departed Northwest as the program's single-season and career leader in assists, while finishing third in career points.
Beattie's coaching staff was also recognized for a strong 2022 campaign, earning MACCC Women's Soccer Coaching Staff of the Year. The group also garnered Junior College Division II Mid-South Region Coaching Staff of the Year, as named by the United Soccer Coaches.
In 2021, the Lady Rangers earned a 15-3-1 final record and was a mainstay in the national rankings by the NJCAA and United Soccer Coaches' polls, where the Lady Rangers finished ranked fifth among NJCAA Division II programs.
With a playoff victory against Meridian on November 2, 2021, Beattie notched his 21st victory leading the Lady Rangers, becoming the fastest Northwest soccer coach to reach 20 or more victories. Northwest also produced four all-conference selections, highlighted by midfielder Jennifer Enriquez, who shattered the program's single-season and career assists record, earning 20 for the season. Enriquez led the MACCC in assists and finished third in the nation.
Beattie was also instrumental in bringing in leading scorer MJ Loeffel, who earned 19 goals on the season for the Lady Rangers. Defender Molly Rose was another all-conference selection for Northwest and signed with Division I program Georgia State following the 2021 season.
Additionally, 10 players have moved to the next level since Beattie's arrival to the program: Enriquez (UT Martin), Malaesha Liddell (UT Martin), Melinda Hernandez (Little Rock), Hadleigh Watson (Belhaven), Rose (Georgia State), Ally Bailey (Christian Brothers University), Tori Dronet (Wayland Baptist University), Jessica Jaimes (Faulkner University), Jordan Gates (Blue Mountain College) and Jer'kaila Jones (Williams Baptist University).
Beattie inherited a Northwest program that finished 3-12 in 2019, having missed the MACCC playoffs for the last five seasons. In his first season with the Lady Rangers the program finished with a 6-6 record and advanced to the first round of the conference playoffs, dropping a narrow 1-0 loss at Mississippi Gulf Coast.
In Beattie’s first season, the Lady Rangers had a record six all-conference selections, led by first teamers Rose and Eliza Olive. Bailey, Loeffel, Logan Tomlinson and Sarah Kate Burns were recognized as second team selections.
Northwest has also performed well in the classroom during Beattie's tenure, as the Lady Rangers were awarded Academic Team of the Year by the MACCC and NJCAA with a 3.62 GPA. His previous Northwest team posted a 3.46 cumulative GPA, as 14 Lady Rangers earned MACCC All-Academic team honors.
Beattie started his coaching career in Scotland working with the Partick Thistle FC professional youth academy. He is now a Director of Coaching for Lobos Rush Soccer Club in Memphis, Tenn. Beattie also serves as a head coach for the Rush National Team Program.
Beattie also served as the Head Coach for the Memphis Lobos for three seasons, competing in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), the second tier of the women’s professional soccer pyramid. The Memphis Lobos team consisted of players from NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, NJCAA and national team ranks. In three seasons with the Lobos, Beattie moved six players into the first tier of the professional soccer ranks in North America and Europe.
He was an assistant coach at Christian Brothers University (NCAA Division II) men's soccer program from 2018-20, helping the Bucs qualify for the Gulf South Conference Tournament in 2019.
He has obtained his USSF B license and a Director of Coaching diploma from the United Soccer Coaches organization. Additionally, Beattie is a licensed grassroots instructor, as certified by the United States Soccer Federation.
Beattie is a graduate from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree (Exercise Science) and received his Masters of Science Degree (Sports Administration) from Arkansas State University. He is married to the former Amanda Hooten of Southaven. The couple has one child, Atlas Glasgow Beattie, who was born in December 2022, and Beattie also attained his U.S. citizenship on July 27, 2023.
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