Pearl River Community College

Pearl River CC Athletics
101 Highway 11 North Poplarville, MS 39470

NJCAA Mississippi Southeast

Public Medium Competitive team

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Coaches

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Drew Gallant

The 2023 season will mark Drew Gallant's eighth year leading his alma mater.

The Hattiesburg native is a 2001 graduate of Forrest County Agricultural High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete competing in football, soccer, golf, tennis and track. He was an All-Division and All-State performer in football and soccer.

After high school, Gallant spent one season at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., where he led the men’s soccer team in assists and was second in total points.

After a year away from college, Gallant attended PRCC in 2003-04 where he was an NJCAA All-America Honorable Mention after scoring 27 goals and registering 24 assists; both marks were not only the second-highest totals in the nation but are school records. He was named to the PRCC Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

He then played two seasons at William Carey University, during which time the Crusaders were ranked in the nation’s Top 25 in NAIA. He earned a BS in social science in 2007 and his Master’s degree in sports administration in 2015, both from Carey.

Gallant’s coaching career began while he was still a student at Carey in 2006, serving as an assistant men’s soccer coach at Jones County Junior College. He was at JCJC for two seasons, then took over in 2008 as head soccer coach, both boys and girls, at FCAHS. He also served as an assistant football coach for the Aggies.

He served at FCAHS for three seasons before taking over as men’s and women’s soccer coach at Southwest Mississippi Community College, a position he held for five seasons before coming to Pearl River.

Gallant had a triumphant return to The River and in 2017 claimed the school's sixth MACJC State Championship. At the conclusion of the season, Gallant was named Coach of the Year by the MACJC, NJCAA Region XXIII and Mississippi Association of Coaches.

The Wildcats saw continued success under Gallant in his second season where the team posted an 11-4 record and advanced to the MACJC tournament.

Pearl River also claimed consecutive MACJC South Division titles in 2018 and '19.

In the 2022 season, Gallant led the Wildcats to a 12-1-4 record while earning a berth in the NJCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

The 2023 season again saw Pearl River compete at a high level as the Wildcats ended the year with a 12-4-1 record. The Wildcats battled their way into the Gulf District final for the third consecutive time.

Gallant is married to the former Katelyn Doyle of Pearl River and has two sons, Landon and Bryce. The couple also has a daughter, Kate Austin.

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Joe Guinchard

Pearl River head soccer coach Drew Gallant named former William Carey University defenseman Joe Guinchard to his staff.

Guinchard, a native of London, England, joins Gallant’s staff after spending the past two seasons on the staff of University of Rio Grande as a graduate assistant and junior varsity head coach.

“Joe brings a great playing experience. He grew up playing in several different academies in England, he was an All-American at William Carey and he spent two years playing professionally in Denmark,” Gallant said. “He also has a great coaching background. He spent the last two years at Rio Grande University who was at the NAIA National Tournament. When I spoke to that head coach and checked his references, it was a no brainer to hire Joe. He’s exactly what we’re looking for.”

Gallant announced Guinchard’s hire ahead of the 2023 season.

COACHING CAREER

While coaching at Rio Grande, Guinchard assisted with game day preparations with scouting and preparing tactical plans and training strategies. In addition to game day preparations, Guinchard was instrumental in player evaluation. During his two years at Rio Grande, the RedStorm compiled an overall record of 35-7-3, were two-time River States Conference Champions and reached a Final NAIA national ranking of No. 3. The 2022 squad reached the NAIA Final Four.

“I am a young coach, and I would like to learn from coach Drew,” Guinchard said. “I am a defender myself, so I will gravitate more to the defensive side and Drew is more on the attacking side. Together, I think we will have good balance.”

PLAYING CAREER

Guinchard was a four-year standout for William Carey, serving as a team captain for the 2018 season. The Crusaders compiled an overall 65-12-8 record during Guinchard’s career. He was recognized as an NAIA Third-Team All American in 2017 and received Honorable Mention after the 2018 season. In addition to his All-American recognition, Guinchard was First-Team All SSAC in 2017 and 2018 and Second Team in 2015.

Guinchard played with FC Sydvest’s first team from 2019 to 2021. FC Sydvest plays in Denmark’s third division.

EDUCATION

Guinchard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, Health and Recreation from William Carey in 2019. He completed a Master of Education in Athletic Coaching and Leadership from the University of Rio Grande in 2023.