Arkansas, Mississippi and South Carolina: New NGU women’s soccer coach is dedicated to her craft
Photo courtesy of NGU Athletics
Kelsey Watson, Sports Editor
From athletic directors to coaches, North Greenville University athletics has seen many changes. For the women’s soccer team, these changes have brought a positive atmosphere to the team.
Katie Crim was an assistant women’s soccer coach at NGU for the past two seasons, and now she has moved up to the head coach position.
Crim played soccer at the University of Arkansas until she sustained a serious injury and could no longer play at that level.
She then transferred to a division two school, Mississippi College, where she finished out the remainder of her collegiate career, winning awards like First Team All American, National Player of the Year runner up and NCAA Woman of the Year finalist. Crim said it’s a coach that had such an impact on her, so she wanted to go out and do the same.
“I had a mentor my last college game ever. Of course, I was bawling my eyes out, and she was like, ‘Hey, now it’s your turn to go make an impact to the game like the game has impacted you,’” Crim said.
Haleigh Holland, senior captain of the women’s soccer team, said Crim is bringing nothing but positivity to the field.
“It’s just so obvious the first time that you talk to her, she really is about you. How can I make you better as a human being, as a young woman in Christ, that’s really who she is. It’s just so obvious when you talk to her that she’s so selfless and she’s all about you in all facets,” said Holland.
While Crim said that she was a little shocked she wanted to apply and interview for the head coaching position, she knew she could be a positive role model in these young women’s lives.
“When I applied to the job, I knew it’s not college coaching that I’m pursuing. It’s these young women at NGU in this environment, and it strictly came from God. Him opening doors, calling me to something bigger than myself,” said Crim.
Now that Crim is the head coach for the Trailblazers, they are now coached by an all-female staff including an assistant coach and graduate assistant. Holland is very excited about this opportunity because it is not something she has ever experienced, as she says it feels empowering.
“I just think it’s so cool to have such a great role model in terms of how she runs a team, but also how she just is as a human being. It’s cool for me to see the perspective she brings and how she carries herself and handles her roles,” said Holland.
With a head coaching position, there comes a lot of pressure. Crim said the most pressure she has felt has come from herself, as she wants to not only be these young women’s coach but also their mentor off the field.
One of Crim’s main goals coming into the head coaching position is for this season to be their best.
“One thing that she’s really honed in on is that she doesn’t want this to be a transition year for us. She wants this, if anything, to be a breakthrough year for us. I love that she’s just coming with that just like aggressive mentality of we’re not going to ride this year out. We’re not going to let this season just kind of pass us by. We are going to make the most of it,” said Holland.
There is a lot of coaching on the field, but not much behind the scenes is seen in the public eye. It is not only about standing on the sidelines and telling the athletes which plays to run, but it’s also about being a role model and loving your players. That is exactly what Crim is trying to do at NGU.
“I think the biggest thing is how you love and how I choose to love these girls. That’s what’s going to shine Christ’s light the brightest. I just want them to know they have a coach that’s going to go to work for them. They have a coach that will do whatever it takes to make sure they’re safe and that it’s a safe space for them, and that they’re loved and welcomed and cared for,” said Crim.
Crim and her players are excited about this upcoming year and what the team can become.
