Southwestern Michigan College is introducing a soccer program.
The SMC Board of Trustees in September voted to further explore expanding the college’s athletics programs, and college President Klint Pleasant tells us soccer rose to the top of the list.
“Soccer quickly emerged,” Pleasant said. “ We’ve got it sponsored in the NJCAA and then the MCCAA, which is our athletic association and conference. And several of our community college colleagues on the west side of the state offer it. So we’ve got some natural kind of partners that are in close proximity that we can play. And so it just sort of emerged in the conversation.”
SMC says Men’s and Women’s Soccer will join its programs as an official NJCAA intercollegiate sport, with competition beginning in the fall of 2027, assuming the right roster sizes are achieved.
This is the latest in a series of moves by SMC to bring sports back to campus after the athletics program was disbanded more than two decades ago. Since the effort to restore athletics began in 2020, Pleasant says it’s been going well.
“Our wrestling program has great numbers. Our volleyball program has great numbers. Men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, track and field, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth. In fact, the growth with our athletic program has really played a part in helping fill our residence halls.”
Our wrestling program has great numbers. Our volleyball program has great numbers. Men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, track and field. You know, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth. In fact, the growth with our athletic program has really played a part in helping fill our residence halls.
Pleasant says having athletics is a great recruitment tool.
With the soccer program now officially launching, Pleasant says the college will begin recruiting a coach, who in turn will recruit students. He adds in the six months since he started at SMC, he’s heard all about the popularity of the sport in the region.
Once all is in order, the SMC Roadrunners soccer teams will compete against their counterparts at colleges like Lake Michigan College, Grand Rapids Community College, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
