Pettit Joins Bulldog Soccer Coaching Staff

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State head soccer coach Neil Macdonald did not have to look far to find his new assistant coach, as former player Kim Pettit will trade the uniform for a clipboard.

Pettit replaces Myranda Sanders, who was named head coach at Division III member Concordia University in Austin, Texas.

"I am thrilled to be joining the staff here at Mississippi State," Pettit said. "I love this University so much, and it is a dream come true to be able to start my coaching career here. I am excited to get started doing what I can to help our program compete for championships."

The Madison, Miss., native played four seasons under Macdonald, serving as one of the two team captains her final two years.

Pettit played 53 games in the midfield, starting nine times and logging nearly 2,000 minutes of action. Injuries limited her to four contests her final season after she scored a career-best five goals as a junior.

The psychology graduate also excelled in the classroom, earning a place on the SEC Academic Honor Roll all four years. This summer she was named Mississippi State's female nominee for the SEC's prestigious Boyd-McWhorter postgraduate scholarship.

Pettit has also been actively involved in the community during her time in Starkville. Last season she was named to the SEC Community Service Team, and she served as the M-Club president following tenures as vice president and treasurer.

"We are excited to have Kim joining our coaching staff," Macdonald said. "She has been a great representative for Mississippi State as a player, and she will really be able to sell our program and University to prospective student-athletes. Kim's outstanding knowledge of the game, combined with her passion for Mississippi State, will benefit us as we continue building a championship program."

Mississippi State opens the 2012 soccer season Friday, Aug. 17, hosting Southeastern Louisiana at 7 p.m. at the MSU Soccer Field.