- Five-time NSIC Coach of the Year (2005, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
- Two-time United Soccer Coaches Central Region Staff of the Year (2021, 2022)
- Two NSIC Regular Season Championships (2018, 2021)
- Two NSIC Tournament Championships (2022, 2023)
- Six NCAA DII Women's Soccer Tournament Appearances (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)
- One NCAA DII Women's Soccer Central Region Championship (2022)
Jim Stone, entering his 25th season as head coach in 2026, is the winningest coach in Bemidji State University soccer history. Prior to his arrival in 2002, BSU had an overall record of 13-80-3. In the 24 seasons since, his BSU teams have accounted for more than 95 percent of the program’s total victories with 271 of the program’s 284 all-time wins. His tenure includes a program-record 19 wins in 2021, the program’s first national ranking and NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in 2017, its first NCAA Division II Tournament win in 2018, its first NSIC Tournament Championship and NCAA Central Region Championship in 2022, and NCAA Central Regional appearances in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025.
Stone inherited a 4-12-1 squad in 2002 and quickly put the building blocks in place for success. Stone’s 2004 team assembled the program’s first double-digit win total, with an overall record of 11-12-0, and made a run to the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals in the Beavers’ first appearance in the postseason event. BSU’s 12-4-7 record in 2005 left the team above the .500 mark for the first time, beginning a run of sustained success that has made Bemidji State one of the NSIC’s top programs.
A five-time NSIC Coach of the Year (2005, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021), Stone has the highest win percentage of any head coach in BSU history at .636, along with the most wins with a 271-144-53 career record. He is also the only coach in BSU soccer history with a winning record in conference play, holding a 182-82-37 mark against NSIC opponents. The Beavers moved into the national forefront with a program-best No. 3 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II poll Oct. 16, 2018.
Under Stone’s guidance, BSU has grown into one of the most decorated programs in the region. The Beavers’ record book includes seven All-Americans, 16 Scholar All-Americans, 118 All-NSIC selections, one NCAA Central Region title, two NSIC regular-season titles and two NSIC Tournament titles. Stone has coached multiple conference players of the year, all-region selections, academic honorees and All-Americans throughout his tenure.
Among the program’s most accomplished players under Stone are Rachael Norton, Sara Wendt, Megan Dahl, Katrina Barthelt, Kari Torgerson, Ashlee Ellefsen, Miranda Famestad, Anna Fobbe, Halle Peterson, Allyson Smith and Sonia Alfieri. Norton remains one of the top offensive players in program history as BSU’s career leader in points and goals, while Wendt holds the program record for career match-winning goals and several postseason scoring records.
Dahl became one of the most decorated defensive players in BSU history as a two-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-American, including United Soccer Coaches All-America honors in both 2021 and 2022. She became the first player in program history to earn All-America recognition in back-to-back seasons.
Barthelt continued BSU’s tradition of elite attacking players by earning NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors in both 2024 and 2025. She was also named the 2025 D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year, earned D2CCA Third Team All-America honors, received the NSIC Elite 18 Award and was selected as the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year.
Goalkeepers have also thrived under Stone’s direction. Kari Torgerson became the program’s first All-American, Anna Fobbe earned NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year and CSC Academic All-American of the Year honors, and Sonia Alfieri set BSU single-season records in 2025 with a 0.412 goals-against average while posting the second-best single-season save percentage in program history at .902.
Stone’s players have also excelled academically. BSU has produced multiple CSC Academic All-America and United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America selections, including Sonia Alfieri and Katrina Barthelt earning CSC Academic All-America honors in 2025, while Barthelt also added United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America recognition.
The Beavers took another leap forward in 2021 with a trip to the NCAA Division II Postseason Tournament Third Round, the furthest the program had advanced in the national tournament at that time. With a 19-2-3 record, Stone’s 2021 squad tallied the most wins in program history and earned United Soccer Coaches Staff of the Year honors. He led BSU to its second NSIC Regular Season Championship with an undefeated conference record of 13-0-2, the third undefeated conference season in program history, as part of 20 straight unbeaten matches to start the season. The Beavers set a program record with 14 shutouts and ended the season No. 9 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll.
Stone coached a program-record eight all-conference selections, seven all-region picks and two-time All-American First Team recipient Megan Dahl in 2021. Dahl was also tabbed as the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year while Mason Schilling earned NSIC Freshman of the Year. The Beavers totaled seven NSIC Player of the Week honors, the most for BSU in a single season. Stone’s focus on the classroom came through with United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American honors for Dahl and Sara Wendt, along with a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region award for Allyson Smith.
The success from 2021 carried directly into the 2022 season as Stone guided Bemidji State to one of the most historic campaigns in program history. The Beavers finished 16-3-6 overall and 10-1-4 in NSIC play, captured the program’s first-ever NSIC Tournament Championship and went on to claim the NCAA Central Region Championship. BSU hosted NCAA Regional play at Chet Anderson Stadium and defeated Central Oklahoma, Minnesota State and Emporia State to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
Stone and his staff were named United Soccer Coaches Central Region Staff of the Year for the second consecutive season after leading the Beavers to another top-10 national finish. BSU ended the year ranked No. 9 nationally for the second straight season and continued its run as one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the Central Region.
The Beavers’ 2022 team also continued to produce some of the top individual honors in program history. Stone coached a program-tying eight All-NSIC selections, including NSIC Defensive Player of the Year Megan Dahl, who earned the award for the second straight season. Dahl also became the first player in program history to earn All-America honors in back-to-back seasons after being named a United Soccer Coaches All-American again in 2022.
Bemidji State’s 2022 squad was dominant defensively, allowing just 16 goals across 25 matches while setting program records with 25 matches played, 2,310 minutes played and 15 shutouts. The program also continued to thrive academically in 2022 as 17 student-athletes earned NSIC All-Academic honors, with 15 named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence. Six Beavers earned Academic All-District honors, while Dahl, Alyssa Stumbaugh, Halle Peterson, Allyson Smith and Sara Wendt were named United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Americans.
Stone guided Bemidji State to another championship season in 2023 as the Beavers finished 13-4-6 overall and 7-3-4 in NSIC play, captured their second consecutive NSIC Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Central Regional. BSU scored 35 goals, allowed just 16, posted a 0.69 team goals-against average and recorded 12 shutouts during the season.
The Beavers continued to collect major postseason honors under Stone’s direction in 2023. Halle Peterson was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and joined Maggie Cade and Maria Stocke as All-NSIC First Team selections, while Katrina Barthelt, Lauren Hodny and Megan Ko earned All-NSIC Second Team honors. Peterson, Stocke, Cade and Barthelt were also named United Soccer Coaches All-Region, while Peterson, Barthelt and Stocke earned D2CCA All-Region recognition.
BSU’s postseason run also featured five NSIC All-Tournament Team selections in Barthelt, Peterson, Edie Frantzen, Stocke and Hodny. The program continued its academic success with 17 NSIC All-Academic selections, six CSC Academic All-District honorees, Peterson earning United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America honors and the team receiving the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award.
Stone guided Bemidji State to another winning season in 2024 as the Beavers finished 9-7-3 overall and 7-4-3 in NSIC play while advancing to the NSIC Tournament First Round. BSU scored 27 goals, added 24 assists for 78 points, and held opponents to 17 goals with a 0.89 team goals-against average and six shutouts.
The Beavers continued to collect postseason honors under Stone’s direction in 2024. Katrina Barthelt and Maria Stocke earned All-NSIC First Team honors, while Lauren Hodny and Megan Ko were named All-NSIC Second Team. Barthelt was also selected D2CCA All-Central Region First Team, named NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and earned three NSIC Offensive Player of the Week awards during the season. Maggie Kramer also earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
BSU also continued its strong academic tradition in 2024 with 18 NSIC All-Academic selections, including 12 named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence. Six Beavers earned CSC Academic All-District honors, Barthelt was selected United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-North/Central Region, and the program received the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award.
Stone led Bemidji State back to the NCAA Tournament in 2025 after guiding the Beavers to a 14-3-4 overall record and an 11-1-3 mark in NSIC play to finish second in the conference standings. BSU advanced to the NSIC Tournament semifinals before falling in penalty kicks and qualified for the NCAA Central Regional, where the Beavers fell to Central Missouri in overtime in the opening round. The Beavers scored 38 goals, allowed just 11, posted a 0.52 team goals-against average and recorded 12 shutouts during the season.
Stone’s 2025 squad featured one of the top defensive seasons in program history and several record-book performances. Goalkeeper Sonia Alfieri set BSU single-season records with a 0.412 goals-against average and finished second in single-season save percentage at .902, while her 14 wins ranked third in program history. As a team, the Beavers’ 2025 defensive unit allowed the fourth-fewest goals in program history and produced the program’s fourth season with 12 or more shutouts.
The Beavers also continued to collect conference, regional, national and academic honors in 2025. Katrina Barthelt was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year and a D2CCA Third Team All-American, while also earning NSIC Elite 18, NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year, CSC Academic All-America and United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America honors. Barthelt and Emma Huelsnitz were named All-NSIC First Team, while Sonia Alfieri, Madeline Davey, Julia Freed, Megan Ko, Maggie Kramer and Ella Wade earned All-NSIC Second Team honors.
In 2017, the Beavers had seven players named to the All-NSIC Team and swept the league’s individual awards as Rachael Norton was named Offensive Player of the Year, Miranda Famestad was selected as Defensive Player of the Year, Catherine Arneson earned Goalkeeper of the Year, Allyson Smith earned Freshman of the Year and Stone was named Coach of the Year. The Beavers again placed seven players on the All-NSIC Team in 2018 with three individual awards as Norton took Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, Anna Fobbe was named Goalkeeper of the Year and Stone became the first coach in league history to be named Coach of the Year in three consecutive seasons.
Stone’s teams have also excelled in the classroom, several times being recognized with the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award, while individually, his student-athletes have earned multiple CSC Academic All-District, CSC Academic All-America, United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region and United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America honors. In 2025, Sonia Alfieri and Katrina Barthelt were named CSC Academic All-America selections, while Barthelt added United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America honors.
Before his arrival at BSU, Stone served as head girl’s varsity soccer coach at Spring Lake Park High School during fall 2001. He also coached in the Wings Soccer Club, which is now the Minnesota Thunder Academy.
In the college ranks, Stone spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons as an assistant coach with both the men’s and women’s programs at Augsburg College. Stone has also been involved with the Fargo Shanley High School boys’ team (1998), Red River High School girls’ team (1997) and Fargo North High School junior varsity squad (1997).
Stone, a 1998 graduate of Concordia (Minn.) College, captained the Concordia men’s soccer team in 1997. He earned Honorable Mention All-MIAC honors in 1997 and helped lead Concordia to MIAC Championships in 1995 and 1996. In 1996, Stone and the Cobbers reached the round of 16 at the NCAA Division III national tournament.
Additionally, Stone holds a Premier Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, a National “B” License and a national youth license from the United States Soccer Federation. Stone also holds a Level I goalkeeper diploma from the NSCAA, which instructs coaches on the nuances of training the goalkeeper position.
He has also spent time working with the Bemidji Youth Soccer Association for 15 years. The St. Paul, Minn., native resides in Bemidji with his wife Heather. They have two daughters, Alyse and Miah, and one son, Isaac.
