OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – After leading the Johnson County Community College women's soccer team to a second straight NJCAA Division II runner-up national finish, head coach Jim Schwab, his staff of assistant coaches Alex Hagan and Madison Hagen, along with trainer Sarah Plowman and volunteer assistant Abigail Logan were named the 2024 NJCAA D-II National Coaching Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches.
Twice Schwab and his staff have been named Region Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches, but this is the first time they have been named the national staff of the year.
The other college women recipients were: NCAA D-I (University of North Carolina), NCAA D-II (Cal Poly Pomona), NCAA D-III (Washington University in St. Louis), NAIA (SCAD Savannah), NJCAA D-I (Daytona State College) and NJCAA D-III (Delta College).
It was another historic season for the Lady Cavaliers under Schwab's guidance, as they won Kansas Jayhawk Conference Division II, Region 6 Division II and North Plains District Division II titles capped by a second place finish at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. JCCC compiled a 19-1-4 record and spent the entire season ranked among the top three in the country, holding down the No. 2 spot the final five polls.
In 2024, the Lady Cavaliers had one of the stingiest defenses in the country, registering a record 15 consecutive shutouts, 18 total for the season, and ranked first in the country with a goals against average of 0.41 and shutouts, and second by allowing only 10 goals all season. They also were one of the top offensive teams in the country, ranking first in points (369) and assists (111), and second in goals scored (129).
Individually JCCC produced the United Soccer Coaches NJCAA D-II Player of the Year (Maya Wallace), three United Soccer Coaches All-Americans (Maya Wallace, Emily Crosby, Maddox Fergus), two NJCAA D-II All-Americans (Emily Crosby, Montana-Rose Currey), two NJCAA D-II All-Tournament Team selections (Maddox Fergus, Lily Marshall), four United Soccer Coaches All-North Region selections (Emily Crosby, Montana-Rose Currey, Maddox Fergus, Maya Wallace) and eight KJCCC/Region 6 D-II selections (Emily Crosby, Montana-Rose Currey, Maddox Fergus, Brecken Hoy, Karsen Koehler, Lily Marshall, Sydney Puetz, Maya Wallace).
Schwab has been the driving force behind the program since its inception in 1999. In his 26 years as the Lady Cavaliers leader, Schwab has compiled a 387-124-25 record. Under his tutelage, JCCC has finished runner-up at the NJCAA National Tournament three times (1999, 2023, 2024) captured 10 Region 6 championships and seven Kansas Jayhawk Conference regular season titles.
The JCCC staff will be honored at the United Soccer Coaches Awards Ceremony on Jan. 10, 2025, at the Marriott Hotel in Chicago in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention.