McMullen passes torch, bids farewell to illustrious Jackson coaching career

The last dance for 18-year Jackson Indians girls soccer coach Justin McMullen has finally come to an end, putting to rest a run that turned the team into one of the top dynasties around.

Over his nearly two decades at his post as head coach, McMullen guided the girls to 10 district titles, seven of them coming consecutively since 2017, and the program’s first-ever final four.

In that time, Jackson rose to prominence in the Southeast Missourian ranks, typically only being challenged by the likes of archrival Notre Dame locally as the two powers annually duked it out.

Now that it’s in the rear-view mirror, McMullen reflected on his time in the red and black after Jackson’s season-ending loss to Nerinx Hall on Saturday.

“I'm just blessed to be part of those things for the last, you know, 18 years,” McMullen said. “I'm just – I'm just happy that I was able to be a part of that.”

Asked about his time with the program, McMullen never hesitated to give thanks to the people who helped him make the most out of his time with the program.

“I've been blessed to have very good, high-character players around me who have kept the program and will continue to keep the program in good standing,” McMullen said.

“Something that goes unnoticed, that I would like to make sure that I say, is our athletic director, John Martin, has been really really good to me and really good to our program.

“Those years don't go as easy as they've been – not that they've been easy, but as easy as they can be – without someone like that guiding myself and our program and steering us in the right direction.”

Moving forward, the development and the system that the program thrives off of has been long established, and as McMullen moves on, he does so in confidence that the success will continue.

Longtime assistant Caleb Beussink will assume the role of head coach as McMullen departs, and the veteran Indians coach only spoke highly of his associate ahead of the changing of the guard.

Not only that, but he assured that he’ll still be around to help if the new skipper ever needs advice.

“It’s a simple thing,” McMullen said. “He's like a younger brother to me, and it’s been that way, and I'm really close to his family as well.

“There's still going to be some [Coach] Mac impact, you know, going forward there. He knows that he can lean on me anytime.”

Not just Beussink will have that amenity, but the players will get that same help and reassurance whenever they need it off the pitch, continuing his legacy as a players’ coach.

That’s what’s helped him build a reputation around the area as one of the top coaches in the game.

“They know that I'll always be here for them, just outside of the game,” McMullen said. “That's what's important to me, for them as individuals to continue to grow.

“Those are the things that I’ve preached as a coach, to be a better person than you are a player. You can control those things.”