Ryan Joiner named new women’s soccer coach

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast's new women's soccer head coach has a championship resume and deep connections to South Mississippi. Ryan Joiner, a former Ocean Spring High School star and three-time state title coach, returns to the area to take over the Bulldogs.

He arrives at Perkinston after five successful seasons at East Central Community College, having previously won three championships at St. Stanislaus and having led his alma mater to a state runner-up finish.

"I see Gulf Coast as an opportunity to bring players in from that area, where the soccer is great," Joiner said. "The administration believes in winning and competing at the highest level. It's an opportunity to compete in the nicest facilities and a place that feels like home to me. I consider Gulf Coast and Ocean Springs, that area, to be home for me."

Joiner, who was born and raised in Ocean Springs, is being hired on an interim basis and will be hitting the ground running with players scheduled to report to campus on Aug. 1.

"I'm excited about this hire," said Athletic Director Steven Campbell. "I'm happy to have a homegrown coach lead our program and can't wait to see him make a positive impact at our institution like he has done everywhere else he has been."

Joiner compiled a 37-22-5 record in his final four seasons at Decatur, including taking the Warriors as high as No. 2 in the NJCAA rankings. His team in spring 2021 finished 11-3-2 and second in the MACCC North, advancing to the Gulf District Tournament semifinals. The following year's team made it to No. 2 in the poll and finished 9-5.

In 2019, Joiner's ECCC team finished 9-7-1 and lost in penalty kicks to Jones in the MACJC quarterfinals.

"We're going to bring in people of character, women who are quality off the field," Joiner said. "The person, to us, is more important than the player. That player will give everything for the college on the field. The team is going to be committed to defend and committed to run. They're going to be super fit and want to play exciting soccer. They'll play for each other like a family, and we want to make sure we represent one another every day."

Joiner's St. Stanislaus boys teams won MHSAA Class 4A state championships in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. The Rockachaws had a 57-15-3 record in his three seasons, and he was named Mississippi Coach of the Year three times by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He was also the Sun Herald's South Mississippi Coach of the Year three times and the Clarion-Ledger Mississippi Coach of the Year in 2014.

Joiner returned to his alma mater in 2016 where he was the girls soccer coach. He led Ocean Springs to a Class 6A runner-up finish in 2017.

Joiner was a standout keeper for OSHS before playing college soccer at Meridian Community College. He was twice named to the All-MACJC First Team and the All-NJCAA Region 23 Team, earning NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention in 2006.

He started his coaching career in 2011 at Meridian before beginning his championship run in high school.

Joiner has a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master's in teaching in community college education from Mississippi State University. He holds a United States Soccer Association B License, National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Diploma, and Level III Goalkeeper Certificate.

He and his wife Kylie have one daughter, Lennon Layne Joiner, 2.

"I'm thankful for Dr. (Mary) Graham, Dr. (Ladd) Taylor, Dean Campbell and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to coach at Gulf Coast," said Joiner.

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.