Armstrong was part of five NCAA Tournament appearances at Auburn.
Armstrong Officially Introduced as Head Soccer Coach, Watch
January 23, 2019 | Soccer
by Bill Martin, Associate Athletic Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – The James Armstrong era is officially underway for Mississippi State soccer. Armstrong, the former associate head coach at Auburn, was introduced as the program's sixth head coach in a formal press conference at the Bryan Athletic Administration Building on Wednesday.
"I'm a strong believer in being realistic rather than idealistic," Armstrong said. "My first day was yesterday, and I got to see the girls train. The energy around the training field was unbelievable. The intensity was fantastic. The immediate job for my staff and I is to really evaluate the players that we have."
In his tenure on The Plains, Auburn made the NCAA Tournament five straight years, advanced to the second round four times, made two trips to the Sweet 16 and finished in the Elite Eight in 2016.
Armstrong takes over a Bulldog program that is coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.
A transcript from the press conference is below:
Head Coach James Armstrong
Opening Statement…
"Firstly, I'd like to thank everybody for coming. What an unbelievable turnout, and that's one of the main reasons I'm here. The community, the support from everybody that I've met so far has been absolutely phenomenal. Obviously, I'd like to thank the entire search committee, particularly Jared Benko, John Cohen and Jay Logan for making me feel so welcome, but not only that, making my family feel so welcome. They're as excited as I am to join this unbelievable community. John [Cohen] talked about my understanding and familiarity with the program and the league. Clearly, what these young ladies have done in the classroom and on the field over the last two years, has really built the foundation for something that can be really special. I know that we're going to bring in some new ideas. We're going to move forward quickly. I can't wait to start working with the girls on the field today. The staff is in place now. We're really looking forward to moving forward at a quick pace, but the excitement – I'm humbled to be here and cannot wait to get started. Thank you to everyone, happy to be here, and happy to answer any questions you might have."
Q: What did you see in last year's program that enabled Mississippi State to have success and what needs to be done to sustain that success?
JA: "Well, thank you for the question. I'll take it a couple of steps at a time. Firstly, I think it was a belief – self-confidence in the current group of players. You could tell that they had a work ethic, a competitive standard. They were all clearly pushing in the same direction and fighting for one another – a blue-collar mentality. That really stood out. They were a team that nobody wanted to play over the last two years, particularly here in Starkville – the community, the fan support, the noise, soccer crowd. They've really established that support as well. They were a team that nobody wanted to play. Obviously, I was brought in here to continue that success. Something that I'm very passionate about is working to get better every single day. You're either getting better or you're losing ground. What we're going to do, my staff and I – because the staff is a huge part of it, the coaching staff but also the support staff – is making sure we maintain those high standards. And we want to, obviously, bring in our own ideas of how to have even more success moving forward."
Q: Can you take us through an abridged version of where you started in your career to now?
JA: "Absolutely. That's a great question. You're right, I've done it all. I've thoroughly enjoyed the process, and I've embraced the process. I started off as an equipment manager for the youth national teams, as soon as I graduated college. Then, I moved onto the full national teams, which allowed me to see the highest level of competition and to see how the top coaches in the country worked and how the top coaching in the world worked. That established my passion for coaching. It really made me realize that this is what I wanted to do. I, then, went into the youth game. In the youth game, it's excellent because you do so much training sessions. You can learn your trade. You're working anywhere from U-8 to all the way to U-18. You're leading those programs, being direct with those programs and dealing with parents, tryouts and all those kinds of things really helped me. Then, I always knew that eventually college was the direction I wanted to take. [Auburn head] Coach [Karen] Hoppa has been an unbelievable mentor to me. The people that she has produced in her programs have been phenomenal and have gone on to do phenomenal things. I'd always known her through the youth national team days. She gave me an opportunity, and I embraced it and ran with it from there. I thought this was the obvious next progression. Being able to go through all the things I've had to go through, from bottom to now here, has allowed me to be ready for anything. I appreciate the question."
Q: Which team or coaching experience best prepared you to work with this team?
JA: "I think all of the teams that I've worked for have helped prepare me for this moment. Obviously, the team that I was just working for at Auburn University, is the one that is most comparable to this level. Definitely, everything that I did with them will help to prepare me to work with these girls. The offensive side of the game was a huge part for me there, at Auburn. We had unprecedented success on that side of the ball. [I'm] definitely looking forward to bringing more of an attacking style – scoring more goals, creating more opportunities. That's not to say they didn't do a good job with that last year, but it's something that, looking at it, I feel like I can really help with. Also, on both sides of the ball, I'm very comfortable there. To answer your question, Auburn and my experience there, will help prepare me for this next step, but all teams have helped me along the way."
Q: How's your system is going to come into play? More offensive, more defensive?
JA: "I'm a strong believer in being realistic rather than idealistic. So, my first day was yesterday, and I got to see the girls train. The energy around the training field was unbelievable. The intensity was fantastic. The immediate job for my staff and I is to really evaluate the players that we have. They are our priority right now, and, obviously, we are learning more about the players that are coming in. We're really starting to figure out how all the pieces of the puzzle come together. I can tell you this, that we're going to go on the front foot. We're going to want to press when the other team has the ball. We're going to want to win the ball back on field. We're going to look to counter quickly when we move the ball up the field. In an ideal world, I'd like to say be a little bit more patient at times, but like I said, idealistically we've got to really take a look at this and look at all we've got. The blue-collar work ethic, competing, pride in the shirt, all of those are non-negotiables for me."
Q: What's the next step for this program with you having such success in tournament appearances in the past?
JA: "That's a great question. Obviously, to make it back to the NCAA Tournament is a priority, but then go beyond that. Obviously, they had a disappointing result in the first round. Talking to the girls, I know they want that game back. We have to make sure we get back to that level and go on from there. Making the SEC Tournament, that's a priority as well. They haven't been there since 2004, so making sure they get to experience that. I know that talking to the girls, that is a priority for them as well. So, we're taking each day, getting better each and every single day, but the overall aim is to make the SEC Tournament, make a good run there and then obviously make it to the NCAA Tournament again – and make it further than we did last time. We're very fortunate we're in the best conference in the country, so every game is going to be competitive. That's great from an RPI standpoint, and we're obviously in a great position there."
Q: You've had a little bit of experience everywhere, how do you think that experience is going to help you in your position here not having been a head coach in the SEC?
JA: "I'll address the point you just made about being a head coach in the SEC. The one thing that I would say is, I know I'm ready for this. My mentor, Coach Hoppa, knows I'm ready for this too. I've been a head coach for every team, other than Auburn. So, leading people, leading the support system behind those people, I am very familiar with. That's one thing that I would answer that part of the question to. So, even though the head coach experience isn't necessarily there at a collegiate level, I was helping Coach Hoppa with everything, every aspect that a head coach would have to be involved in. The one difference would be, I now get to make final decisions, and that's the most important piece that I'm more than ready for."
Q: What are the biggest challenges that you think will present themselves?
JA: "The biggest challenge for me was finding the staff I wanted to work with. I am very fortunate that Josh [Rife] and Geri [Siudzinski], they have been unbelievable since all of this started. The relationship they have built with the players, that would have been a big challenge if they were not here. That's been fantastic from that standpoint with me, and the administration was amazing. Going after the person I wanted to bring with me, the new addition will get announced later today hopefully, and the experience that they bring will be unbelievable. The two assistants that I have, both played professionally at the highest levels of the game domestically here in the United States. They know what it takes to compete at the highest levels. So, putting together the staff has been the biggest challenge. We've overcome that already, so that's the most exciting part for me right now."
Q: What would you say is the one thing you would like to be the hallmark for this team?
JA: "So, yesterday at training, I got to see so many things that were important to me. First off, there has to be a mentality to compete every single day in everything you do. Taking pride in that, and that obviously goes for the training field and in the classroom as well. The mentality to want to get better every single day. Confidence, enthusiasm, passion, all of that is contagious, so I want to see that from all of my players. Confidence that we're going to win the ball back, confidence that we're going to do it together. Confidence to want the ball, confidence to make good decisions on the ball when you're in possession of it. Those are things I definitely look for in my players and in my team, but also a sense of family. There is an unbelievable since of family here at this institution and in this community. I want my players to know they're a family in a family, if that makes sense. I want them to feel like this is a home away from home. They're going to get after it on the training field and compete against one another, but they need to leave it behind on the training field and embrace and support each other in all other aspects of life.
Q: Did you recognize Mississippi State's mentality last year and how does that translate into your first year?
JA: "Honestly being familiar with the SEC and talking to the coaches and having to scout Mississippi State, that was absolutely 100 percent evident and not just from players 1-5. Regardless of who you are on the field at any given time, they were giving 110 percent. The energy from the players on the bench and the support that they were giving their teammates, the overall general feeling of enthusiasm and energy was definitely evident. One of the reasons why I came here was I had to be the right fit. I wanted to take over a program where the foundation still was a healthy foundation. Clearly, I saw that when I saw the team play multiple times last year and I can tell you this, just watching yesterday, it is still there. We're looking forward to getting after it starting today."
#15 Miranda Carrasco, Fr., D
Q: What are your impressions of Coach Armstrong from what you've seen so far?
MC: "He actually coached at Lonestar SC in Austin, Texas, and I'm from Houston, Texas. I played for a club called Challenge, and he coached at Lonestar. He knows about all my coaches back at Challenge because they eventually went to Challenge. I called my coaches back home and asked them. He introduced himself to us and told us a little bit about himself. He told us he used to coach for Lonestar, and I was like, 'No way!' I asked him about my coaches and if he knew them, and he knew all about them. I called them yesterday and I asked them how he was and what they thought of him. I've heard nothing but positive things about him. It's all been positive and great things. I've heard he's a great guy, great coach and a great person on top of all of that. I'm really excited to see the many more accomplishments and the history we're going to keep making. I've heard great things. His first impression was amazing. Whenever he was talking, I felt like I already had a connection immediately. We were talking, and I felt very comfortable immediately. I'm very excited. He seems like a great person and a great coach."
Q: Was that your first opportunity to make a reference call for somebody for a job?
MC: "Definitely. I told my club coach, you know, put in a good word for me. Why not? But yes, I talked to my club coach a lot about him, and I just mentioned how excited I am to be working with him. He said, 'Yeah, you should be. He's a great guy and a great coach. There's nothing you need to worry about.' And he [Coach Armstrong] himself, he told me, 'Don't worry about it.' The first day of practice, yesterday, he told us, 'I know I'm here. I know it's scary, but don't worry about it. Just have fun. Do your thing. Act like it's a regular practice, and I'm just a regular person that's here.'"
Q: Do you feel like your optimism is shared in the locker room?
MC: "Definitely. Oh my gosh, it's all good things in the locker room whenever we discuss with each other. It's just been positivity on top of positivity, optimism about him. I've always been excited to go to practice, but this time it's different. I'm more excited because I want to get to know him. He seems like a great guy, like I've said so many times, but it's just been super positive. All of the girls are so excited. We're all just excited as a team and can't wait to get after it in the spring, so in the fall we can compete and get to the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, pass the first round like we should have. That's still a sensitive topic, but I believe this team and our new head coach are capable enough to get far. I'm excited. All I see is positivity. We just express optimism in the locker room."
Director of Athletics John Cohen
Opening Statement
"What an exciting day this is for us, welcoming a new member of the Mississippi State family. Before I talk a little bit about our new soccer coach, I just want to thank our soccer staff. They did a great job, Josh [Rife] and Geri [Siudzinski]. I don't know if you are here but what an incredible job you did holding our entire soccer crew together, from a recruiting standpoint, from a practice standpoint. We really appreciate them. I appreciate the group, administratively, we put together led by Jared Benko to help us find the right candidates around the country, and it was a national search for sure. I want to thank all of you for being here, and I think we have some of our soccer team here today. I want to mention this, when we went through our process, it was not amazing to me, but the outpouring of folks who were interested in this position. I told this to our soccer team a few weeks ago, the reason why there was so much interest in this position is because of what has happened to our soccer program over the last two years. These young ladies who are with us today, they were a huge part of that. Thank you for what you have done on the field and in the classroom, and thank you for taking this program to a new level. What were we looking for? We were looking for someone who had SEC success, not just experience but success. What Coach [James] Armstrong did as a cornerstone, as a member of the coaching staff at Auburn University, was pretty remarkable, when you talk about a final eight appearance, when you talk about Sweet 16 appearances in the sport of soccer that had never been to those heights before. Not only has Coach Armstrong been a part of Southeastern Conference, he has been very successful in the Southeastern Conference and a program that really rebuilt itself and that was one of the main things we were looking for. We wanted someone who had a deep appreciation for what had just happened on our own campus. One of the first things he talked about, is what has happened here in our soccer program, and he went bit by bit, detail by detail explaining to us how we got where we are. He had done his homework, there is no question about that. We were looking for someone who has integrity. There is only one way to do it, to be successful, and that's with integrity. We made so many phone calls and talked to so many people about Coach Armstrong, and for sure, he fits that bill. We needed somebody who was passionate. That's an emotion I have difficulty reaching out toward and putting my arms around. I've been accused of helping officials and things of that nature in my own career, but we needed somebody to lead our soccer program with passion and we feel like he had that. Along with passion, obviously, work ethic is everything because a huge portion of what you do as a coach in the best league in America, the Southeastern Conference, is you have to recruit at a very high level. You can only do that with an incredible work ethic. He has recruited at the highest level. If you look at the list that he has brought to Auburn University and you look at what he is already onto in terms of our next classes at Mississippi State, it's really, really exciting. We were looking for someone who really understood the nature of a winning culture. And you hear that word over and over again and it's really hard to run around and identify and point at. It's one of those things like something else we've heard of "You know it when you see it". And we certainly saw that in Coach Armstrong. We needed someone who believes in academic success, and already our soccer program has set a high watermark for academic success at Mississippi State University. We want that to continue and Coach Armstrong really got that throughout the entire process. So, I wish that his lovely wife Casey could've been here today and his beautiful daughter Olivia, who is quite active and is just a blast to be around, we wish they could be here today. I'm sure they are frantically packing it up, but please let me welcome the sixth head soccer coach at Mississippi State University, Coach James Armstrong."
STARKVILLE – The James Armstrong era is officially underway for Mississippi State soccer. Armstrong, the former associate head coach at Auburn, was introduced as the program's sixth head coach in a formal press conference at the Bryan Athletic Administration Building on Wednesday.
"I'm a strong believer in being realistic rather than idealistic," Armstrong said. "My first day was yesterday, and I got to see the girls train. The energy around the training field was unbelievable. The intensity was fantastic. The immediate job for my staff and I is to really evaluate the players that we have."
In his tenure on The Plains, Auburn made the NCAA Tournament five straight years, advanced to the second round four times, made two trips to the Sweet 16 and finished in the Elite Eight in 2016.
Armstrong takes over a Bulldog program that is coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.
A transcript from the press conference is below:
Head Coach James Armstrong
Opening Statement…
"Firstly, I'd like to thank everybody for coming. What an unbelievable turnout, and that's one of the main reasons I'm here. The community, the support from everybody that I've met so far has been absolutely phenomenal. Obviously, I'd like to thank the entire search committee, particularly Jared Benko, John Cohen and Jay Logan for making me feel so welcome, but not only that, making my family feel so welcome. They're as excited as I am to join this unbelievable community. John [Cohen] talked about my understanding and familiarity with the program and the league. Clearly, what these young ladies have done in the classroom and on the field over the last two years, has really built the foundation for something that can be really special. I know that we're going to bring in some new ideas. We're going to move forward quickly. I can't wait to start working with the girls on the field today. The staff is in place now. We're really looking forward to moving forward at a quick pace, but the excitement – I'm humbled to be here and cannot wait to get started. Thank you to everyone, happy to be here, and happy to answer any questions you might have."
Q: What did you see in last year's program that enabled Mississippi State to have success and what needs to be done to sustain that success?
JA: "Well, thank you for the question. I'll take it a couple of steps at a time. Firstly, I think it was a belief – self-confidence in the current group of players. You could tell that they had a work ethic, a competitive standard. They were all clearly pushing in the same direction and fighting for one another – a blue-collar mentality. That really stood out. They were a team that nobody wanted to play over the last two years, particularly here in Starkville – the community, the fan support, the noise, soccer crowd. They've really established that support as well. They were a team that nobody wanted to play. Obviously, I was brought in here to continue that success. Something that I'm very passionate about is working to get better every single day. You're either getting better or you're losing ground. What we're going to do, my staff and I – because the staff is a huge part of it, the coaching staff but also the support staff – is making sure we maintain those high standards. And we want to, obviously, bring in our own ideas of how to have even more success moving forward."
Q: Can you take us through an abridged version of where you started in your career to now?
JA: "Absolutely. That's a great question. You're right, I've done it all. I've thoroughly enjoyed the process, and I've embraced the process. I started off as an equipment manager for the youth national teams, as soon as I graduated college. Then, I moved onto the full national teams, which allowed me to see the highest level of competition and to see how the top coaches in the country worked and how the top coaching in the world worked. That established my passion for coaching. It really made me realize that this is what I wanted to do. I, then, went into the youth game. In the youth game, it's excellent because you do so much training sessions. You can learn your trade. You're working anywhere from U-8 to all the way to U-18. You're leading those programs, being direct with those programs and dealing with parents, tryouts and all those kinds of things really helped me. Then, I always knew that eventually college was the direction I wanted to take. [Auburn head] Coach [Karen] Hoppa has been an unbelievable mentor to me. The people that she has produced in her programs have been phenomenal and have gone on to do phenomenal things. I'd always known her through the youth national team days. She gave me an opportunity, and I embraced it and ran with it from there. I thought this was the obvious next progression. Being able to go through all the things I've had to go through, from bottom to now here, has allowed me to be ready for anything. I appreciate the question."
Q: Which team or coaching experience best prepared you to work with this team?
JA: "I think all of the teams that I've worked for have helped prepare me for this moment. Obviously, the team that I was just working for at Auburn University, is the one that is most comparable to this level. Definitely, everything that I did with them will help to prepare me to work with these girls. The offensive side of the game was a huge part for me there, at Auburn. We had unprecedented success on that side of the ball. [I'm] definitely looking forward to bringing more of an attacking style – scoring more goals, creating more opportunities. That's not to say they didn't do a good job with that last year, but it's something that, looking at it, I feel like I can really help with. Also, on both sides of the ball, I'm very comfortable there. To answer your question, Auburn and my experience there, will help prepare me for this next step, but all teams have helped me along the way."
Q: How's your system is going to come into play? More offensive, more defensive?
JA: "I'm a strong believer in being realistic rather than idealistic. So, my first day was yesterday, and I got to see the girls train. The energy around the training field was unbelievable. The intensity was fantastic. The immediate job for my staff and I is to really evaluate the players that we have. They are our priority right now, and, obviously, we are learning more about the players that are coming in. We're really starting to figure out how all the pieces of the puzzle come together. I can tell you this, that we're going to go on the front foot. We're going to want to press when the other team has the ball. We're going to want to win the ball back on field. We're going to look to counter quickly when we move the ball up the field. In an ideal world, I'd like to say be a little bit more patient at times, but like I said, idealistically we've got to really take a look at this and look at all we've got. The blue-collar work ethic, competing, pride in the shirt, all of those are non-negotiables for me."
Q: What's the next step for this program with you having such success in tournament appearances in the past?
JA: "That's a great question. Obviously, to make it back to the NCAA Tournament is a priority, but then go beyond that. Obviously, they had a disappointing result in the first round. Talking to the girls, I know they want that game back. We have to make sure we get back to that level and go on from there. Making the SEC Tournament, that's a priority as well. They haven't been there since 2004, so making sure they get to experience that. I know that talking to the girls, that is a priority for them as well. So, we're taking each day, getting better each and every single day, but the overall aim is to make the SEC Tournament, make a good run there and then obviously make it to the NCAA Tournament again – and make it further than we did last time. We're very fortunate we're in the best conference in the country, so every game is going to be competitive. That's great from an RPI standpoint, and we're obviously in a great position there."
Q: You've had a little bit of experience everywhere, how do you think that experience is going to help you in your position here not having been a head coach in the SEC?
JA: "I'll address the point you just made about being a head coach in the SEC. The one thing that I would say is, I know I'm ready for this. My mentor, Coach Hoppa, knows I'm ready for this too. I've been a head coach for every team, other than Auburn. So, leading people, leading the support system behind those people, I am very familiar with. That's one thing that I would answer that part of the question to. So, even though the head coach experience isn't necessarily there at a collegiate level, I was helping Coach Hoppa with everything, every aspect that a head coach would have to be involved in. The one difference would be, I now get to make final decisions, and that's the most important piece that I'm more than ready for."
Q: What are the biggest challenges that you think will present themselves?
JA: "The biggest challenge for me was finding the staff I wanted to work with. I am very fortunate that Josh [Rife] and Geri [Siudzinski], they have been unbelievable since all of this started. The relationship they have built with the players, that would have been a big challenge if they were not here. That's been fantastic from that standpoint with me, and the administration was amazing. Going after the person I wanted to bring with me, the new addition will get announced later today hopefully, and the experience that they bring will be unbelievable. The two assistants that I have, both played professionally at the highest levels of the game domestically here in the United States. They know what it takes to compete at the highest levels. So, putting together the staff has been the biggest challenge. We've overcome that already, so that's the most exciting part for me right now."
Q: What would you say is the one thing you would like to be the hallmark for this team?
JA: "So, yesterday at training, I got to see so many things that were important to me. First off, there has to be a mentality to compete every single day in everything you do. Taking pride in that, and that obviously goes for the training field and in the classroom as well. The mentality to want to get better every single day. Confidence, enthusiasm, passion, all of that is contagious, so I want to see that from all of my players. Confidence that we're going to win the ball back, confidence that we're going to do it together. Confidence to want the ball, confidence to make good decisions on the ball when you're in possession of it. Those are things I definitely look for in my players and in my team, but also a sense of family. There is an unbelievable since of family here at this institution and in this community. I want my players to know they're a family in a family, if that makes sense. I want them to feel like this is a home away from home. They're going to get after it on the training field and compete against one another, but they need to leave it behind on the training field and embrace and support each other in all other aspects of life.
Q: Did you recognize Mississippi State's mentality last year and how does that translate into your first year?
JA: "Honestly being familiar with the SEC and talking to the coaches and having to scout Mississippi State, that was absolutely 100 percent evident and not just from players 1-5. Regardless of who you are on the field at any given time, they were giving 110 percent. The energy from the players on the bench and the support that they were giving their teammates, the overall general feeling of enthusiasm and energy was definitely evident. One of the reasons why I came here was I had to be the right fit. I wanted to take over a program where the foundation still was a healthy foundation. Clearly, I saw that when I saw the team play multiple times last year and I can tell you this, just watching yesterday, it is still there. We're looking forward to getting after it starting today."
#15 Miranda Carrasco, Fr., D
Q: What are your impressions of Coach Armstrong from what you've seen so far?
MC: "He actually coached at Lonestar SC in Austin, Texas, and I'm from Houston, Texas. I played for a club called Challenge, and he coached at Lonestar. He knows about all my coaches back at Challenge because they eventually went to Challenge. I called my coaches back home and asked them. He introduced himself to us and told us a little bit about himself. He told us he used to coach for Lonestar, and I was like, 'No way!' I asked him about my coaches and if he knew them, and he knew all about them. I called them yesterday and I asked them how he was and what they thought of him. I've heard nothing but positive things about him. It's all been positive and great things. I've heard he's a great guy, great coach and a great person on top of all of that. I'm really excited to see the many more accomplishments and the history we're going to keep making. I've heard great things. His first impression was amazing. Whenever he was talking, I felt like I already had a connection immediately. We were talking, and I felt very comfortable immediately. I'm very excited. He seems like a great person and a great coach."
Q: Was that your first opportunity to make a reference call for somebody for a job?
MC: "Definitely. I told my club coach, you know, put in a good word for me. Why not? But yes, I talked to my club coach a lot about him, and I just mentioned how excited I am to be working with him. He said, 'Yeah, you should be. He's a great guy and a great coach. There's nothing you need to worry about.' And he [Coach Armstrong] himself, he told me, 'Don't worry about it.' The first day of practice, yesterday, he told us, 'I know I'm here. I know it's scary, but don't worry about it. Just have fun. Do your thing. Act like it's a regular practice, and I'm just a regular person that's here.'"
Q: Do you feel like your optimism is shared in the locker room?
MC: "Definitely. Oh my gosh, it's all good things in the locker room whenever we discuss with each other. It's just been positivity on top of positivity, optimism about him. I've always been excited to go to practice, but this time it's different. I'm more excited because I want to get to know him. He seems like a great guy, like I've said so many times, but it's just been super positive. All of the girls are so excited. We're all just excited as a team and can't wait to get after it in the spring, so in the fall we can compete and get to the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, pass the first round like we should have. That's still a sensitive topic, but I believe this team and our new head coach are capable enough to get far. I'm excited. All I see is positivity. We just express optimism in the locker room."
Director of Athletics John Cohen
Opening Statement
"What an exciting day this is for us, welcoming a new member of the Mississippi State family. Before I talk a little bit about our new soccer coach, I just want to thank our soccer staff. They did a great job, Josh [Rife] and Geri [Siudzinski]. I don't know if you are here but what an incredible job you did holding our entire soccer crew together, from a recruiting standpoint, from a practice standpoint. We really appreciate them. I appreciate the group, administratively, we put together led by Jared Benko to help us find the right candidates around the country, and it was a national search for sure. I want to thank all of you for being here, and I think we have some of our soccer team here today. I want to mention this, when we went through our process, it was not amazing to me, but the outpouring of folks who were interested in this position. I told this to our soccer team a few weeks ago, the reason why there was so much interest in this position is because of what has happened to our soccer program over the last two years. These young ladies who are with us today, they were a huge part of that. Thank you for what you have done on the field and in the classroom, and thank you for taking this program to a new level. What were we looking for? We were looking for someone who had SEC success, not just experience but success. What Coach [James] Armstrong did as a cornerstone, as a member of the coaching staff at Auburn University, was pretty remarkable, when you talk about a final eight appearance, when you talk about Sweet 16 appearances in the sport of soccer that had never been to those heights before. Not only has Coach Armstrong been a part of Southeastern Conference, he has been very successful in the Southeastern Conference and a program that really rebuilt itself and that was one of the main things we were looking for. We wanted someone who had a deep appreciation for what had just happened on our own campus. One of the first things he talked about, is what has happened here in our soccer program, and he went bit by bit, detail by detail explaining to us how we got where we are. He had done his homework, there is no question about that. We were looking for someone who has integrity. There is only one way to do it, to be successful, and that's with integrity. We made so many phone calls and talked to so many people about Coach Armstrong, and for sure, he fits that bill. We needed somebody who was passionate. That's an emotion I have difficulty reaching out toward and putting my arms around. I've been accused of helping officials and things of that nature in my own career, but we needed somebody to lead our soccer program with passion and we feel like he had that. Along with passion, obviously, work ethic is everything because a huge portion of what you do as a coach in the best league in America, the Southeastern Conference, is you have to recruit at a very high level. You can only do that with an incredible work ethic. He has recruited at the highest level. If you look at the list that he has brought to Auburn University and you look at what he is already onto in terms of our next classes at Mississippi State, it's really, really exciting. We were looking for someone who really understood the nature of a winning culture. And you hear that word over and over again and it's really hard to run around and identify and point at. It's one of those things like something else we've heard of "You know it when you see it". And we certainly saw that in Coach Armstrong. We needed someone who believes in academic success, and already our soccer program has set a high watermark for academic success at Mississippi State University. We want that to continue and Coach Armstrong really got that throughout the entire process. So, I wish that his lovely wife Casey could've been here today and his beautiful daughter Olivia, who is quite active and is just a blast to be around, we wish they could be here today. I'm sure they are frantically packing it up, but please let me welcome the sixth head soccer coach at Mississippi State University, Coach James Armstrong."
Players Mentioned
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/ SoccerSaturday, November 15
Saturday, November 15
Saturday, November 15
Monday, November 10