Head Coach
350-119-20 (.736)
24 Seasons as Head Coach
34 Seasons at JCCC

When it comes to building a foundation for success, the Lady Cavaliers have a master architect in head coach Jim Schwab. Player or coach, indoor or outdoor, professional, amateur or collegiate – whatever the realm, the bottom line is Jim Schwab is winning. Schwab has been a driving force behind the tremendous success of Johnson County Community College soccer since taking over the men’s program in 1990. Schwab finished his 34th season as a head soccer coach at JCCC and his 24th with the women’s program in 2022, Schwab has built one of the top women’s soccer programs in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

The only coach in the program’s history, Schwab won his 200th game in 2010, and his 250th in 2014, topped the 300-win plateau in 2017 and garnered No. 35 in 2022. His 350 career victories are the most of any coach in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference, third nationally among active coaches and fourth-most all-time in the NJCAA. Schwab has led Johnson County to 21 double-digit win seasons, and he has won 17 or more games 10 times. His Lady Cavaliers have appeared in the NJCAA Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll in 16 preseason polls in the programs 25-year history (64%), including a No. 2 preseason ranking in 2010. Overall, his program has appeared in 107 of 227 polls over the last 24 years (47%).

Under his tutelage, JCCC has captured eight of the 23 Region VI titles, second most of any program in the region, and his teams have made it the final four in the region playoffs in 20 of 24 years. He also has won five Kansas Jayhawk Conference tiles and one District title. In 2009, he guided the program to its first NJCAA Tournament appearance, finishing runner-up. JCCC also tied its season wins mark with 19, while establishing a record for shutouts with 18.

Honors have also come Schwab’s way. Six times he has been selected the Region VI Coach of the Year, and in 2009 he garnered the NJCAA District B Coach of the Year honor. In 2017, he was named the Kansas Jayhawk Conference East Division Coach of the Year for the first time.

Schwab’s players have also seen unbelievable success. In 24 seasons as women’s head coach, he has coached 14 NJCAA All-Americans, four NSCAA All-Americans, three NJCAA All-Tournament performers, 96 NJCAA All-Region VI performers, four Region VI Players of the Year recipients and 120 All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference performers, including nine in 2015 and 2017, eight in 2009 and seven in 2010 and 2014. In the classroom, 81 individuals have earned NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete awards, and 10 have posted 4.0 grade point average including five in 2021-22. In 2019, defender Georgia Vernardakis became the first JCCC female athlete to earn Google Cloud Academic All-America® College Division At-Large as named by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Additionally, Schwab has seen 71 of his athletes continue their athletic careers at the four-year level: five at NCAA Division I, 19 at NCAA Division II and 47 at the NAIA level.

In JCCC’s inaugural season in 1999, Schwab immediately established his program among the elite in the NJCAA, racing to a top-10 national ranking with an impressive 17-2 mark. JCCC easily won the region title and fell just one victory shy of reaching the national tournament that first campaign. Schwab also coached the country’s top goalkeeper in Amy Antonich and two of the country’s premier scoring threats in Tracy Kesterson and Connie Studna. All three were named as NJCAA All-Americans.

His second season, Schwab again had his team ranked among the best in the country. Johnson County finished 17-4, won a region title, and came just short of reaching the national tournament, falling to Meramec in the District C Championship in a shootout. The season also saw scoring phenom Tracy Kesterson top 100 points in her career, becoming only the second soccer player, male or female, in JCCC history to reach that plateau.

The 2001 campaign witnessed the scoring explosion of All-Americans Connie Studna and Jenny Wallen. Studna became the second player in JCCC women’s soccer history to top 100 career points, finishing with 101. Wallen tallied 68 total points on the season, the second highest total in JCCC history. The season also saw the Lady Cavaliers win 19 straight games, and finish the regular season ranked among the top teams in the country.

In 2002, JCCC again produced one of the top scoring forwards in the country. Freshman Shannen Taylor found the net 32 times, and assisted on eight others, for a grand total of 72 points, breaking the season mark of All-American Tracy Kesterson. The team proved to be on all cylinders as well, winning 18 games, with just two ties. One of their ties was in a shootout against Iowa Central in the District title game.

Johnson County overcame the loss of several key players to injuries in the 2003 campaign, but managed to finish with a 13-9 record and a runner-up finish in the East Jayhawk Conference and Region VI Tournament. The season also saw Taylor become just the third player in team history to top 100 points in a career.

In 2004, the Cavaliers experienced a roller coaster type season, finished 10-8, and lost in the first round of postseason play. However, JCCC did post some key victories, including a 5-3 win over nationally ranked and two-time region champion Butler County. Additionally, six individuals were honored as All-Region VI performers.

The 2005 season saw Schwab again build one of the top teams in the country, leading the Lady Cavaliers to a 18-2-1 record, a region title, and a top-15 ranking in the NJCAA. During the season, JCCC defeated nationally ranked programs Butler County and Southwestern Illinois, tied Iowa Western and twice defeated defending D-III national champion Richland. The season also produced two of the top scorers in the NJCAA and one of the top goalkeepers. Fivi Mihai, an NJCAA and NSCAA All-America selection, and Chelsea Sheahan tied for 26th nationally with 45 points. Liz Casey ranked 10th nationally with a goals against average of .501. Also, in the inaugural season for the NJCAA to select Players of the Week, Mihai and Casey were each selected one time.

In 2006, Schwab fielded the top scoring offense in the NJCAA. JCCC averaged 6.9 goals per match in 2006, and scored 10 or more goals six times, including a record 19 goals against Cloud County in the first round of the region tournament. JCCC finished the campaign 18-1-2, dropping its only game in the District Final against Laramie County.

Individually, JCCC had four individuals finish in the top 21 in scoring in 2006, including the top two scorers nationally. Freshmen Rachelle Luster and Danielle Blevins finished one-two nationally with 103 and 102 points. They are the only players in team history to top 100 points in a single season. Luster’s 103 points consisted of 34 goals and school record 35 assists. Blevins scored a record 39 goals and had 24 assists. She also tied a national record with eight goals in that 19-0 win over Cloud. She also had four assists to give her 20 points, also a school record. Freshman Emily Leeper was fourth overall in the country with 79 points, finishing with 31 goals and 17 assists. The fourth member of JCCC’s “Fab Four” was Courtney Cowan, who finished 21st nationally with 53 points on 20 goals and 13 assists. Luster and Blevins were honored as NJCAA All-Americans, as well as Region VI and Kansas Jayhawk Conference performers. Luster was also named NSCAA All-American and voted the MVP and Freshman of the Year in the conference. Leeper also earned all-region and all-conference accolades, and joined Luster as an NSCAA All-American.

In 2007, Schwab again produced one of the country’s top scoring offenses. JCCC averaged 4.9 goals per match, and scored 10 or more goals in four matches, including an 18-goal outburst in the season opener against Cloud County. The Cavaliers had three individuals finish in the top 25 in scoring, led by last year’s national scoring champion Rachelle Luster. She finished tied for eighth with 67 points, and was followed by Emily Leeper at No. 12 with 66, and Courtney Cowan at 23rd with 50. Luster and Leeper leave the program ranked No. 1 and No. 2 all-time in points, goals and assists. Cowan is close behind at fourth, fifth and fifth in each of those categories. Luster and Leeper were also honored as NJCAA All-Americans. Leeper was a second-team pick, and Luster earned honorable mention honors. Luster is the first player in team history to earn NJCAA All-America as a freshman and sophomore.

In 2008, JCCC again emerged as the top team in the region, winning the program’s sixth title. Six individuals earned postseason honors as the team posted a 15-5-2 record.

In 2009, Schwab and his Lady Cavaliers finally cleared the District hurdle. JCCC won its seventh Region VI title in the 11-year history of the championship, shutting out nationally ranked Hutchinson and Barton County. They followed with another shutout over nationally ranked Laramie County in the semifinal of the District B Tournament, then earned their first trip to the NJCAA National Tournament by knocking off defending district champion North Idaho, 3-0. JCCC went on to reach the NJCAA Championship match by downing a previously unbeaten Polk Community College squad, 2-1, and No. 4 ranked Lewis & Clark,1-0, the team’s 18th shutout of the season. In the title game, JCCC lost to host Tyler Junior College 3-0, finishing the 2009 season as the nation’s second-best women’s soccer program. Schwab saw eight players earn all-conference, seven all-region and three earn NJCAA All-Tournament honors, including Kelly Voigts, who was named the tournament’s top goalkeeper.

In 2010, Schwab guided JCCC to another outstanding season. His Lady Cavaliers finished 16-3-0 overall and a No. 5 ranking in the final NJCAA poll. JCCC also finished runner-up in the conference race with an 11-1-0 mark. Individually, five players garnered All-Region VI honors, and seven were named as All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference performers.

In 2011, his Lady Cavaliers finished 14-5-2 overall, 9-2-1 in the conference and reached the Region VI Final Four for a 13 straight season. Schwab also coached five all-conference performers and four garnered All-Region VI honors. Additionally, his top assistant, Wendy Louque, was selected the Junior College National Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association.

In 2012, JCCC posted a 13-8-1 record, and again reached the Region VI Final Four, extending that streak to 14 straight years. He also coached five all-conference players and two All-Region VI picks.

In 2013, Johnson County posted a 17-3-1 record, were ranked in eight of the 10 national polls, including two weeks in the top-10, and finished runner-up in the Region VI playoffs.  Individually, Schwab had five players selected All-Region VI and six garner All-Jayhawk Conference honors.

In 2014, JCCC opened the campaign ranked 15th in the preseason poll. They went on to finish 15-6-0, place third in the conference and reach the semifinals of the Region VI tournament. Schwab also had seven players selected all-conference, and four earn All-Region VI. 

In the 2015, Johnson County made it the Region VI final and finished 19-3-1 overall and runner-up in the conference standings and appeared in the national ranking in seven of the 12 polls. The season also saw Ashlynn Summar become the 13th player to garner All-America honors, and a record nine players were selected as all-conference performers. In addition, Summar and Tori Devonshire were name the conference offensive and defensive players of the year.  Also on that team was Joanna Taylor, who finished the season ranked first in the conference and seventh in the NJCAA with 63 points. He also had five players earn NJCAA academic honors.

The 2016 seasons again the Lady Cavaliers again finished runner-up in the conference standings and Region VI tournament, posting a record of 12-6-1. It marked the 18th straight year program made it the final four in the region playoffs. Additionally, six players were selected all-conference, and two were named to the Region VI team. 

In 2017, Johnson County split the season series with Butler and the two shared the conference title. It was JCCC first title since 2007 and fifth overall. His Lady Cavaliers finished 15-5-0 and reached the semifinals of the Region VI Tournament, falling 1-0 in double overtime to Coffeyville. The season also saw nine players earn all-conference honors, tying the record set in 2015. Schwab was named conference coach of the year and standout defender Gerogia Vernardakis was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

In 2018, the Lady Cavaliers played a brutal schedule and finished the season 11-7-2. However, they were runner-up in the conference race, posting a 9-1-2 mark.

In 2019, Johnson County posted a 13-7-1 mark and was ranked 18th in the final season NJCAA poll. The team also tied Cowley as the top team in Region VI and reached the semifinals of the Plains District Tournament by posting road victories over top-20 ranked programs Cloud County and Kansas City Kansas in the first two rounds of the championship. Individually, six players were selected all-conference, and sophomore forward Kayla Brashear was a second-team All-Region VI pick.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the season to the spring semester, along with a limited schedule, playing only conference opponents. The Lady Cavaliers finished 7-7 overall, and 7-6 in conference play, good for third place in the East standings. Schwab had four players garner postseason recognition, all earning first-team all-conference honors. 

In 2021 Johnson County finished 7-7-1 overall and 6-6-1 in the conference, good for a third-place finish. He also had four players garner All-East Jayhawk honors, two making the first-team and two on the second-team.

Last year, JCCC posted an 8-11-0 mark placed third in the confernce race. Schwab also coached three all-conference players with two first-team selections, and one All-Region 6/District performer. The season also saw Schwab record his 350th career victory when his Lady Cavaliers defeated Neosho County 4-0 on October 19, 2022.

Schwab is living proof that competition breeds success. While playing for the Kansas City Attack professional indoor soccer team, Schwab earned the reputation as one of the National Professional Soccer League’s top competitors. That same competitive fire, energy and intensity while playing the game of soccer have brought the Johnson County Community College men’s soccer program to a new level of success.

“I realize that it takes hard work and I expect 110 percent from my players,” Schwab said. “That’s what I gave every day when I was playing.”

Schwab, who in 1990 became the fourth head coach of the JCCC men’s soccer program, set a standard of excellence that is unmatched in Cavalier soccer history and among NJCAA soccer programs. Schwab coached the men’s team 10 seasons at JCCC, and compiled an impressive 156-45-6 mark for a winning percentage of .750. He ranks first in winning percentage and first in total wins among JCCC’s soccer mentors. During his tenure with the men’s team, Schwab led the Cavaliers to five Region VI titles, four consecutively from 1993 through 1996, and he was honored as the Region VI coach of the year in each of those seasons.

Schwab is the only Cavalier soccer mentor to post a 20-win season, leading JCCC to a 21-1 mark in 1992. His 100th career win came at the end of the 1995 campaign against Allen County in a season that eventually saw the Cavaliers win the region title. The team narrowly missed a return trip to nationals, falling to Forest Park in district title game 2-1 in shootout after 150 minutes of soccer.

In JCCC’s magical 1994 season, Schwab led the Cavaliers to their first NJCAA Tournament appearance after winning the central district championship. In 1996, JCCC opened the season ranked No. 10 in the preseason coaches poll. The Cavaliers finished 17-3 overall, ranked No. 3 in the final rankings and won a fourth straight Region VI title.

Schwab’s men’s teams racked up an average 16 wins a season at Johnson County. This is due, in large part, to his renowned ability for spotting talent, evidenced by the number of athletes who were awarded achievement honors and opportunities to advance their careers. Schwab coached six All-Americans, three academic All-Americans and 38 All-Region VI performers during his career as the men’s coach. In addition, 10 former Cavaliers were either drafted or signed professional contracts. One, Shawn Beyer, was named to the NPSL All-Rookie team in 1998.

Success has also followed Schwab in his professional playing career. A 1985 draft choice of the Kansas City Comets, Schwab has played the previous six seasons in the NPSL, the last five with the Kansas City Attack. His intensity and leadership on the field fueled back-to-back, 26-win seasons in 1991-92 and 1992-93 and a NPSL championship in 1992-93. In 1995-96, he led the team to a league best 32-8 record and a National Division title.

During his career as a professional soccer player and as a collegiate head coach, Jim Schwab demonstrated the character and competitive spirit needed to win championships. In the 1996-97 National Professional Soccer League season, Schwab combined his expertise of playing defender for the Kansas City Attack and his coaching knowledge from the community college ranks, to leading the Attack to the NPSL championship.

Schwab led the Attack to an 11-2 record in the playoffs, including a four-game sweep over the defending champion Cleveland Crunch. The Attack became the first Kansas City team to win two championships in the 1990s and Schwab matched Attack general manager Zoran Savic by winning a league title in his rookie NPSL coaching season. Savic won his title with Kansas City in 1993, also against the Cleveland Crunch. Schwab was the team captain of that championship team. Both also led their teams to a regular season mark of 26-14 and neither team won their division, yet both came away with NPSL titles.

As a player, Schwab is the Attack’s most decorated defender, and one of the premier shot blockers in the NPSL. He retired ranked as the team’s all-time shot blocker. He also was ranked in the team’s top 10 for assists and two-point goals.

During his first season with his expanded duties as player/coach, Schwab registered a team-high 52 blocks and six three-point goals. In the 13 playoff contests, Schwab registered the most blocks of any NPSL defender, knocking away 26. He broke team and NPSL records for scoring three three-point goals in the first quarter of a game against the Milwaukee Wave. It was his second hat trick of the season and marked a career-high output in points in one game. That effort earned Schwab the NPSL Player of the Week honors.

Schwab said his association with the Attack helps him gain respect from his college players.

“As a professional player and coach, your biggest goal is to win a championship,” Schwab said. “We always had a winning attitude with the Attack and I think I carry that attitude over to my players at JCCC.”

Schwab was a collegiate standout player at Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis and was a member of the United States Junior National Team.

Schwab has three sons, Luke, Davis and Jack. His son Davis, played for the Johnson County baseball program and Missouri State University, and was drafted in the 37th round in the 2019 Major League Draft by the Atlanta Braves.

Schwab's Record at Johnson County