Bethel University (TN)

Bethel University Wildcats Athletics
325 Cherry Ave. McKenzie, TN 38201

NAIA Tennessee Southeast

Private Small Competitive team

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Malang Jarju

Coach Malang (J.J.) Jarju is in his eighth season as head coach of the Wildcats and 15th overall at the school. He is 85-36-9 with the Cats. He was a member of the Wildcats from 2003-2007 and then was a longtime assistant with the program.

Coach Jarju was named as interim head coach in July of 2016 after the resignation of his longtime mentor Melvin Belong. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Bethel University in 2008 and his Master’s Degree in Education in 2021. He is a native of Banjul, The Gambia in West Africa, where he attended Nusrat High School. Jarju played for both the junior and senior national teams of Gambia. He was a member of the Bethel University Wildcats from 2003 to 2007. He owns the record for goals scored in a career at Bethel University at 56. He also holds the record for points in a career at 151 and assists in a career at 39. He was named All-TranSouth Conference first team, All-Region first team, and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention in the past seasons for the Wildcats. He is the first ever Bethel men's soccer player to have his jersey retired and hung in Bethel's Baker Fieldhouse.

As a coach, Jarju holds a U.S.S.F.C. Certificate and a member of NSCAA. He is involved in a soccer Club with Jackson Wolves and player development in Jackson, Tenn., and the surrounding communities and conducts several soccer camps every summer with Coach Belong.