Jarjoura steps down as Northwest coach
Northwest Mississippi Community College will be looking for a new head soccer coach after Peter Jarjoura, who’s been with the program since its inaugural season in 2002, recently announced his retirement.
“I’ve got mixed emotions,” Jarjoura said. “I’m sad I’m leaving, but I’m happy to start a new chapter in my life. It was a great experience for me and I matured a lot in 11 years. There were good times and bad and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I gave it all I had. To see the program and facilities progress over the years is great to see. I hope the future coach continues to take the program in the right direction.”
Jarjoura came to Northwest in 1991 and spent 12 years in the physical plant before starting the soccer program in 2002.
Jarjoura coached both teams for 11 seasons, posting a 70-76-9 mark with the women and 69-84-9 record on the men’s side. He tutored five NJCAA All-Americans during his tenure and also saw his teams excel academically with 19 players earning NJCAA academic achievement awards.
Jarjoura led the women to the 2006 MACJC north division championship during a school record 14-5 season, along with three north division runner-up finishes (2002, 2003, 2004) and two state and region runner-up finishes (2004, 2006). The men’s team finished as division runnerup in 2002, 2008 and 2009.
Charlie Baldwin, who has been the assistant coach for both teams since 2006, will be promoted to head men’s soccer coach and the search for a women’s head coach will begin immediately. “I’m extremely happy,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin has 25 years of soccer coaching experience under his belt and spent the past seven seasons as an assistant for both Northwest programs, sharing recruiting and coaching responsibilities with Jarjoura.
“Promoting from within helps us keep our momentum going forward,” Northwest director of athletics Cameron Blount said. “We gain coach Baldwin’s experience inside and out of the program already and know that he has a plan for the upcoming season. By having a separate coach for the men and women, it will allow more one-on-one coaching and energy dedicated to each program.”
Before Northwest, Baldwin was head soccer coach at DeSoto Central, leading the boys’ soccer program in 2005 and 2006 and the girls’ squad in 2003 and 2004. He would lead DeSoto Central to three Chickasaw Conference championships during his stay. Baldwin was also the girls’ head soccer coach at Southaven High School from 1998-2001.
Before coaching at the high school level, Baldwin coached the Germantown Fury for four seasons and the Memphis Futbol Club for nine. He was also a training coach for the Mississippi Olympic Development Program. He holds a NSCAA National Diploma and USF National “C” License.