Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Zac Selmon Announces Contract Extension For James Armstrong
February 06, 2024 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – Following a historic 2023 season, Mississippi State head soccer coach James Armstrong has signed a contract extension through the 2027 season. Director of Athletics Zac Selmon made the announcement on Tuesday.
"James has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in student-athlete development on and off the field during his time in Starkville," Selmon said. "With his guidance, our soccer program continues to raise the standard on the field, break records in the classroom and serve as leaders in our community. We look forward to seeing the program continue to grow under his direction."
Armstrong, who was named the sixth head coach of the Bulldog soccer program on January 18, 2019, following an illustrious tenure as an assistant and associate head coach at Auburn for six seasons, has been instrumental in elevating the Mississippi State women's soccer program to unprecedented heights.
"I would like to thank Zac Selmon and his administration for providing me with the opportunity to continue to lead this program," Armstrong said. "My family and I couldn't be more excited to be staying in Starkville for the next four years and the journey ahead. I greatly appreciate all the players and staff that I have had the privilege of working with over the years."
Under the guidance of Armstrong and his exceptional coaching staff, including Associate Head Coach Nick Zimmerman, Assistant Coach Brian Dunleavy, and Assistant Coach Kat Stratton, Mississippi State soccer has garnered widespread recognition for their outstanding performance on the field.
The 2023 season witnessed historic milestones for the Bulldogs, marking a new era of excellence for the Maroon and White. Among the standout achievements were the first-ever victory at Florida in program history, a remarkable back-to-back triumph over ranked opponents (2-0 at No. 18 Kentucky, 2-0 at No. 16 Alabama), tying for the most single-season SEC wins (4) and securing the most points in the SEC standings in program history (17).
The Bulldogs set new records with the longest SEC win streak (4) and the longest SEC unbeaten streak in program history (6). Additionally, the team advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinals for the first time, securing back-to-back NCAA Tournament hosting opportunities as the highest seed in program history.
A historic run through the NCAA Tournament culminated in the program's first-ever Sweet 16 appearance. The team showcased defensive prowess by conceding the fewest goals in program history (16), while the season also saw a record-breaking highest attendance of 10,122 fans.
In a semester marked by dedication and hard work, soccer achieved a remarkable semester GPA of 3.65. This accomplishment ranks as the second-best GPA of any semester in the program's history. Moreover, it stands as the second-best women's team GPA and the third-best overall team GPA for the Fall 2023 term. For Mississippi State, soccer led the SEC in its sport with 25 selections on the academic list. An impressive 15 student-athletes earned Top Dawg Honors, signifying a perfect 4.0 GPA for the Fall 2023 semester.
In recognition of their exceptional leadership and achievements during the 2023 season, the Mississippi State Soccer Staff was named the 2023 NCAA Southeast Staff of the Year (SOY) by United Soccer Coaches. This prestigious honor underscores the collective efforts of Armstrong, Zimmerman, Dunleavy, and Stratton in guiding the Bulldogs to unprecedented success.
State secured a place among the elite in collegiate soccer at the conclusion of the 2023 season, as both United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer named them the consensus number 14 team in the nation. This dual recognition is a testament to the team's exceptional talent, dedication, and outstanding performance throughout the season and marks the first time the Bulldogs have been ranked at the end of the season.
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's soccer on X, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
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"James has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in student-athlete development on and off the field during his time in Starkville," Selmon said. "With his guidance, our soccer program continues to raise the standard on the field, break records in the classroom and serve as leaders in our community. We look forward to seeing the program continue to grow under his direction."
Armstrong, who was named the sixth head coach of the Bulldog soccer program on January 18, 2019, following an illustrious tenure as an assistant and associate head coach at Auburn for six seasons, has been instrumental in elevating the Mississippi State women's soccer program to unprecedented heights.
"I would like to thank Zac Selmon and his administration for providing me with the opportunity to continue to lead this program," Armstrong said. "My family and I couldn't be more excited to be staying in Starkville for the next four years and the journey ahead. I greatly appreciate all the players and staff that I have had the privilege of working with over the years."
Under the guidance of Armstrong and his exceptional coaching staff, including Associate Head Coach Nick Zimmerman, Assistant Coach Brian Dunleavy, and Assistant Coach Kat Stratton, Mississippi State soccer has garnered widespread recognition for their outstanding performance on the field.
The 2023 season witnessed historic milestones for the Bulldogs, marking a new era of excellence for the Maroon and White. Among the standout achievements were the first-ever victory at Florida in program history, a remarkable back-to-back triumph over ranked opponents (2-0 at No. 18 Kentucky, 2-0 at No. 16 Alabama), tying for the most single-season SEC wins (4) and securing the most points in the SEC standings in program history (17).
The Bulldogs set new records with the longest SEC win streak (4) and the longest SEC unbeaten streak in program history (6). Additionally, the team advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinals for the first time, securing back-to-back NCAA Tournament hosting opportunities as the highest seed in program history.
A historic run through the NCAA Tournament culminated in the program's first-ever Sweet 16 appearance. The team showcased defensive prowess by conceding the fewest goals in program history (16), while the season also saw a record-breaking highest attendance of 10,122 fans.
In a semester marked by dedication and hard work, soccer achieved a remarkable semester GPA of 3.65. This accomplishment ranks as the second-best GPA of any semester in the program's history. Moreover, it stands as the second-best women's team GPA and the third-best overall team GPA for the Fall 2023 term. For Mississippi State, soccer led the SEC in its sport with 25 selections on the academic list. An impressive 15 student-athletes earned Top Dawg Honors, signifying a perfect 4.0 GPA for the Fall 2023 semester.
In recognition of their exceptional leadership and achievements during the 2023 season, the Mississippi State Soccer Staff was named the 2023 NCAA Southeast Staff of the Year (SOY) by United Soccer Coaches. This prestigious honor underscores the collective efforts of Armstrong, Zimmerman, Dunleavy, and Stratton in guiding the Bulldogs to unprecedented success.
State secured a place among the elite in collegiate soccer at the conclusion of the 2023 season, as both United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer named them the consensus number 14 team in the nation. This dual recognition is a testament to the team's exceptional talent, dedication, and outstanding performance throughout the season and marks the first time the Bulldogs have been ranked at the end of the season.
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's soccer on X, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
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– HailState.com –
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