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SMC To Add NJCAA Soccer Next Fall
Published on October 1, 2026 - 4 p.m.
Southwestern Michigan College will be adding Men’s and Women’s Soccer as official NJCAA intercollegiate sports, with competition beginning in the fall of 2027, presuming appropriate roster sizes are achieved.
At a special meeting in September, the SMC Board of Trustees approved further exploration by senior leadership of potential athletics expansion, and the college notified the Michigan Community College Athletics Association, NJCAA Region XII and the NJCAA National Office earlier this week of its intentions to add two teams for next season.
The college will immediately begin a search for a full-time head soccer coach and will start renovating the existing grass field located on the Dowagiac Campus near Mathews Street, just east of William M. White and Thomas F. Jerdon Halls and just south of the Dale A. Lyons Building. The area has sufficient space for a regulation collegiate pitch, but will require some grading, drainage and irrigation work to make it suitable for practice and competition. The Roadrunners will also have practice space available on the existing intramural field behind the Charles O. Zollar Building.
“Soccer is certainly one of the world's most-played sports,” said Dr. Klint Pleasant, SMC President and CEO. “Since my arrival in April I have heard multiple comments related to the popularity in our region, and this also allows us to join our community college colleagues on the west side of Michigan who also sponsor soccer. It will be exciting to host games outside, in the fall, in the heart of campus for our athletes, parents, fans and alumni. This will add yet another opportunity for school spirit, while adding to our collegiate culture. SMC has so much to offer and this allows us to continue enrollment growth while also enhancing the campus student experience.”
“SMC Athletics has been so well-received by the community over the last five years,” said Board Chair Tom Jerdon. “This field renovation, along with the 1st Source Bank Fieldhouse, Zollar Wrestling Room, Choir Room and Band Room projects, is another example of our responsible upgrades to existing facilities to provide more ways for students to thrive right here in Southwest Michigan.”
“We’re excited to continue to expand SMC Athletics by adding soccer,” said Athletic Director Rodell Davis. “We have been very successful in providing more opportunities for students to excel in the sports they love. Our teams are very competitive, often outperforming much larger schools in our conference, and, over time, we plan to do the same with soccer.”
Student-athletes interested in competing for SMC should complete the Recruiting Form at https://smcroadrunners.com/landing/index
Get ready for more Roadrunners!
#OpportunitiesStartHere #NJCAASoccer #FastAndFierce #RunAsOne #WeAreSMC
