The Missouri State Bears men's soccer team represent Missouri State University in NCAA Division I men's soccer.[3] As of the next NCAA soccer season in 2025, the Bears will compete in the American Conference (American), after more than 30 years as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team plays its home matches at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium. They are currently coached by Michael Seabolt, who is entering his fourth season as head coach. Missouri State has made 9 NCAA tournament appearances, most recently in 2024. The Bears' overall record in the NCAA tournament is 3–9. They have won 12 conference regular-season titles and three conference tournaments. Missouri State has had 8 players selected in the MLS Draft.
For the first seven years of the program's existence, it was an independent. They switched their conference affiliation for a year in 1989 to the Association of Mid-Continent Universities (now known as the Summit League). They switched back to being an independent for the 1990 season. From 1991 to 2024, the team was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. In May 2024, Missouri State announced it would move its athletic program to Conference USA, which sponsors soccer only for women, effective in July 2025.[4] In October 2024, the Bears were announced as a new men's soccer associate of the American, also effective in 2025.[5][a]
Prior to 2005, Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Missouri State plays their home matches at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium. The on-campus, 1,500-seat stadium was built in the summer of 2014. The stadium has a combination of bleacher and chair-back seating. The stadium features a Sport Turf artificial turf playing surface. The stadium has locker rooms for both men's and women's soccer programs. It also has a press box and Daktronics LED premier video board.[7]
Championships
Conference championships
Regular season
Missouri State has won 12 regular-season conference championships in the team's history. They won back-to-back championships twice, in 2013–2014 and 2019–2022. In 2019 the Bears finished the regular season undefeated in both conference and non-conference play. Jon Leamy coached the team for its first 10 championships, with current coach Michael Seabolt on board for the two most recent championships.
Missouri State has appeared in 9 NCAA tournaments, including each tournament since 2019, and has an overall record of 3–9. Missouri State won their first tournament game 2019 at home against Denver 1–0. This was the first time the program hosted a tournament game. Prior to 2005 Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State, making 2 appearances in 1997 and 1999. Jon Leamy coached the Bears in their first six tournament appearances, and current coach Michael Seabolt has led the Bears to three tournaments.
Last updated: January 6, 2025. Source: NCAA Soccer
Yearly results
Missouri State's first season was in 1981 where they went 4-6-1 under head coach Frank Dinka. From the inaugural season in 1981 to the end of the 2004 season Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State. The school changed their name to Missouri State in 2005 and since then has been known as Missouri State. The Bears were an independent until 1988 when they joined what is now the Summit League for a year. After a lone season as an independent again, Missouri State joined the Missouri Valley Conference. They remained members of the MVC through the 2024 season, after which they will join the American Athletic Conference. They made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997 when they lost to Saint Louis University in the first round 2–1. The Bears have appeared 3 more times since then, most recently in 2019 where they reached the round of 32. 2019 was also Missouri State's most successful season as they went 18-1-1 and went an undefeated 10-0-0 in conference play and 16-0-0 during the regular season.
Statistics overview
Season
Coach
Overall
Conference
Standing
Postseason
Southwest Missouri State Bears (Independent[8])(1981–1988)
1981
Frank Dinka
4–6–1
1982
Frank Dinka
5–10–2
1983
Frank Dinka
3–12–1
1984
Frank Dinka
6–11–0
1985
Frank Dinka
7–10–2
1986
Frank Dinka
8–11–0
1987
Jan Stahle
9–10–1
1988
Jan Stahle
9–12–1
Southwest Missouri State Bears (AMCU[9])(1989–only)
1989
Jan Stahle
14–8–3
3–3–0
4th
Southwest Missouri State Bears (Independent[8])(1990–only)
Missouri State Bears (American Conference)(2025–present)
2025
Michael Seabolt
MVC:
330–261–64
131–65–23
Total:
403–360–72
National championPostseason invitational champion Conference regular season championConference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season championDivision regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion
MLS Draft History
Missouri State has had several alumni drafted by Major League Soccer clubs in the various MLS drafts.
MLS College Draft
Missouri State has had 1 player drafted in the MLS College Draft. Matt Caution was drafted in the third round of the 1998 Draft by the Dallas Burn, now known as FC Dallas.
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