Jason Crist enters his 22nd year as the Spring Arbor University head women’s soccer coach in 2020.
Crist guided the Cougars to their second NAIA national championship in three years during the 2017 campaign on the heels of earning the program’s first-ever NAIA national title in 2015.
Over the past three seasons, Crist and the Cougars have enjoyed a historic run. The program put together a 32-match winning streak, which ranks as the second-longest streak ever in the NAIA, as well as a 42-match unbeaten streak, tying for the second-longest mark all-time. Before falling in the 2016 national title match, SAU held the top spot in the NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for 10 consecutive polls – the second-longest span in the history of the NAIA.
Spring Arbor also rewritten the program record book over the last few years, including scoring 91 goals while conceding just five in 24 matches in 2016 – the fewest goals allowed in the NAIA and tied for second-fewest in NAIA history. The Cougars would go on to shatter that scoring mark the following year with 102 goals.
After leading the Cougars to a national title in 2017, Crist and his staff was recognized as the NSCAA/NAIA National Staff of the Year. It was his second national honor after being named the NAIA's top coach after capturing the 2015 national championship.
Under Crist’s direction, Spring Arbor has won eight straight Crossroads League Tournament titles and seven consecutive Crossroads League regular season championships. The team has made nine trips to the NAIA national tournament – eight straight since 2010 – and owns an overall mark of 18-6-2 in NAIA championship postseason. The Cougars have made six appearances in the round of 16, and advanced to the semifinals four times and the finals three times, including in 2015 and 2017 when they won the whole thing.
Crist has coached 21 NAIA All-Americans, including two National Players of the Year.
At the completion of the 2017 season, Crist ranks third among active NAIA coaches in wins with 303. In 18 seasons, he has compiled a record of 303-78-25 (.777).
Spring Arbor annually plays one of the most aggressive NAIA schedules in the country. Over the past five seasons alone, the Cougars have played 47 teams either ranked or receiving votes in the Top 25 Poll and have posted an incredible 37-6-4 record in those matches.
Though no longer a member, Spring Arbor experienced a great amount of success in the NCCAA as well. The Cougars won the national title in 2010 while finishing runner-up in 2007 and third place in 2002. Crist was named the NSCAA/NCCAA National Coach of the Year in 2010 following the team’s championship win, and garnered Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors nine times.
Crist currently serves as the Women's Soccer Coaches Assosciation NAIA President, and has also served as the vice president and secretary. He has been a member of the national oversight committee for NAIA women's soccer and currently serves as the Crossroads League rater.
Before assuming head coaching duties for the Lady Cougars, Crist served as the assistant women's coach for two years at Spring Arbor. His coaching resume also includes experience coaching both boys and girls at Jackson High School and Jackson County Western High School. Crist has also worked with several clubs, most recently the Michigan Rush. He is nationally licensed by the USSF and is currently a staff coach Michigan ODP where he serves as the head coach for the 2005 girls state team.
Crist attended and played soccer at SAU. He has a bachelor of arts in elementary education with minors in language arts and exercise sports science. He and his wife, Melissa, have two children, Elijah and Samara. The Crists reside in Spring Arbor, Michigan.
The Cougars Under Crist
| 2000-01 |
7-10 |
| 2001-02 |
10-7 |
| 2002-03 |
14-6-2 |
| 2003-04 |
15-7-1 |
| 2004-05 |
18-2-3 NAIA National Tournament Sweet 16 |
| 2005-06 |
15-6 |
| 2006-07 |
16-6-1 |
| 2007-08 |
17-3-3 |
| 2008-09 |
16-6-1 |
| 2009-10 |
12-6-3 |
| 2010-11 |
18-5-2 NAIA National Tournament Opening Round and NCCAA National Champions |
| 2011-12 |
19-3-1 NAIA National Tournament Sweet 16 |
| 2012-13 |
20-3-2 NAIA National Tournament Final Four |
| 2013-14 |
18-3-1 NAIA National Tournament Opening Round |
| 2014-15 |
19-1-2 NAIA National Tournament Sweet 16 |
| 2015-16 |
23-2-1 NAIA National Champions |
| 2016-17 |
22-1-1 NAIA National Runner Up |
| 2017-18 |
24-1-1 NAIA National Champions |
| 2018-19 |
20-2-1 NAIA National Tournament Final Four |
| 2019-20 |
9-5-6 NAIA National Tournament Opening Round |
| Total- |
332-85-32 (.775) |
