Spring Arbor University

Jason Crist finished his 23rd year as the Spring Arbor University head women’s soccer coach in 2022.

Crist led the Cougars to their third NAIA national championship in the past seven years during the 2022 campaign, having skippered the Cougars to national titles in 2015 and 2017 as well.  Crist and his staff have guided their teams to an amazing seven NAIA Final Four appearances in the past ten seasons.

Over the last ten seasons, Crist and the Cougars have enjoyed a historic run. In the 2015 and 2016 campaigns 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.  Currently the Cougars lead the country in consecutive NAIA Top 25 poll appearances, having amassed 134 consecutive weeks in the poll. The Cougars have compiled a record of 226-25-22 since 2011, an amazing .870 winning percentage.

Crist’s Cougars are well known for their defensive organization and Spring Arbor has twice conceded just five total goals during a season (2016 & 2022) – the fewest goals allowed in the NAIA and tied for second-fewest in NAIA history.

After leading the Cougars to a national title in 2017, Crist and his staff were recognized as the NSCAA/NAIA National Staff of the Year. It was his second national NAIA honor after being named the NAIA's top coach after capturing the 2015 national championship.  

Under Crist’s direction, Spring Arbor has won ten Crossroads League Tournament titles, including nine straight from 2010-18, and eleven Crossroads League regular season championships. The team has made fourteen trips to the NAIA national tournament – thirteen straight since 2010 – and owns an overall mark of 34-9-3 in NAIA championship postseason. The Cougars have made eleven appearances in the round of 16, advanced to the semifinals seven times and the finals four times, including in 2015, 2017 and 2022 when they captured their three national titles.

Crist has coached 58 NAIA All-Americans, including four National Players of the Year.

At the completion of the 2022 season, Crist ranks first among both active and all time NAIA coaches in wins with 384. In 23 seasons, he has compiled a record of 384-90-38 (.788).

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 has served as the Women's Soccer Coaches Association 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, has served on the National Tournament Selection Committee and currently serves as the Crossroads League rater.

Before assuming head coaching duties for the 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 was formerly a staff coach with Michigan ODP where he served as the head coach for the 2005 girls state team. 

Crist also enjoyed great success coaching in the United Women’s Soccer league at the semi-professional level.  He spent three years as the head coach and general manager of Lansing United, capturing the Midwest regular season championship twice.

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 teen children, Elijah (16) and Samara (14). The Crists reside in Spring Arbor, Michigan.