Macdonald Joins MSU Soccer Coaching Staff
May 25, 2016 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State soccer head coach Neil McGuire announced an addition to his coaching staff Tuesday afternoon with the hiring of former Iowa Central Community College head coach Neil Macdonald as an assistant coach. His hiring is pending approval by the Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning.
"It is my privilege to welcome Neil to this staff," McGuire said. "Having known him for so long, I know first hand of his coaching abilities and am proud to be able to have him join us. He brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience, yet, more importantly, he a man of integrity and class.
"Neil has an innate sense for the game and this will no doubt be of huge value to our players. Having been with us in the spring, the players are already familiar with his abilities, and are delighted he is now on staff."
Macdonald starred alongside McGuire during their playing days at Augusta (GA) State, then obtained his first coaching stint as an assistant coach under McGuire at Iowa Central in 1998. Macdonald took over the reigns of both the Tritons men's and women's program in 1999 when McGuire left to become an assistant coach at nearby Iowa State.
Under his tutelage the past five seasons, the men's squad has captured five regional championships, four times reaching the sweet sixteen of the national NJCAA tournament, including this past season when the squad advanced to the Final Four. As the women's mentor, Macdonald helped the Lady Tritons to five consecutive regional championships, including an appearance in the Elite Eight this past season.
During his five-year tenure in Fort Dodge, Macdonald collected an impressive 149-34-5 coaching record and received Regional Coach of the Year laurels from the National Junior College Association of America following the 2002 campaigns.
In addition to his playing career at Augusta State, Macdonald also has a playing stint with the Scottish football club Inverness (1988-89).
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with coach McGuire again," Macdonald said. "We had a wonderful spring season and I have been very impressed with the team's commitment and work ethic. I really feel that the future of this program is bright and am anxious for the fall season to begin."
Macdonald and his wife, Jamie, a professor in the Art and Design program at State, currently reside in Starkville. He holds his "C" coaching license from the Union of European Football Association.
