KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bemidji State University Women's Soccer coaching staff off head coach Jim Stone, assistant coach Mike Korman and volunteer assistant Julian Licata have been recognized by the United Soccer Coaches as Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year for the second consecutive season.
 
Stone and his staff were one of 52 staffs (26 men's and 26 women's) across all three NCAA Divisions to receive regional staff of the year honors. In addition, the Region Staff of the Year recipients will be placed on the ballot for United Soccer Coaches National Staff of the Year consideration within their respective NCAA division. National Staff of the Year voting opens December 7, 2022.
 
Stone and his assistants led the Bemidji State Women's Soccer team to new heights during the 2022 season. The Beavers finished second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season standings and then went on one of the most historic postseason runs in program history. The Beavers won the NSIC Tournament for the first time in the program's 27-year history and hosted the first four rounds of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament for the first time. After defeating University of Central Oklahoma and Minnesota State University, Mankato in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, the Beavers defeated Emporia State University to claim the program's first-ever NCAA Central Region Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight before eventually falling to Ferris State University.
 
Stone has led the Beavers to 18 consecutive season with at least .500 winning percentage and seven consecutive seasons with at least double-digit wins. The Beavers have made it to postseason play in 12 consecutive season including NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. He has coached 93 All-NSIC, 41 all-region picks and six all-Americans and his teams are consistently recognized for academic success including conference, regional and national awards.
 
Region Staff of the Year honors will be recognized at the College Coaches Awards Ceremony at the United Soccer Coaches Convention on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pa.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State soccer program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversSoccer), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversSoccer)
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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