JACKSON - After leading his team to a 20-1 record and the program's first Region 23 championship, Northwest women's soccer coach James Beattie has been announced as the 2023 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year.

In four seasons, Beattie has transformed the trajectory of the Northwest women's soccer program. The Glasgow, Scotland native has guided the Lady Rangers to the postseason in each of the last four years, including back-to-back trips to the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship tournament.

This season, Beattie led the Lady Rangers to a historic 20-win campaign and a share of the MACCC title, split with Holmes and Jones College. Northwest then proceeded to sweep through the Region 23 playoffs, shutting out Copiah-Lincoln, Holmes and Pearl River to claim the region championship and an automatic bid into the national tournament.

In 21 matches this season, Beattie's team has outscored their opponents 112-4, including 19 shutouts along the way. The Lady Rangers' 112 goals are currently tied for fourth nationally, while the four goals allowed are the second fewest in the NJCAA and the least of any team remaining in the postseason.

Last year, Beattie and his staff collected MACCC Women's Soccer Coaching Staff of the Year honors, while also being recognized as Junior College Division II Mid-South Region Coaching Staff of the Year, as named by the United Soccer Coaches.

Northwest will begin its national tournament path on Sunday at 1:30 P.M. Central, as the Lady Rangers will face 11th-seed Rock Valley College, before closing out Pool B competition against seventh-seed Johnson County on Tuesday afternoon. All matches will be streamed through pay-per-view on the NJCAA Network.