Aird Fighting to Keep BU Soccer Season Alive

For over 25 years, Misty Aird has not only been part of Bethel University but also an intricate part of McKenzie. Since being named the head women’s soccer coach, Aird has devoted her entire career to Bethel. When she came to Bethel, she believed that God called her here.

While doors closed to where she wanted to go, everything pointed her to McKenzie. Being from a small town in Oklahoma, she loved the small town feel, and Bethel helped her fill that void.

When she started coaching, she was surrounded by strong Christian women who mentored her. They taught her how to be a wife and a mom. She felt like Bethel was her new family; it was home. She took that same sense of family and structured her team similarly. She is still in contact with girls from that first team she coached 25 years ago. Bethel Women’s Soccer is a sisterhood full of traditions and values, and they promote a standard of excellence.

When Aird’s girls put on that Bethel uniform, they represent something greater than themselves. It is an honor to be allowed to wear the uniform, and there are certain expectations that all women soccer players, past and present, must meet.

She has had the privilege to see the seeds she had planted flourish over time. Aird has celebrated new jobs, weddings and babies as her former players included her in their milestones. Her players are now women who are coaches, moms, doctors, lawyers and CEOs. They had the basis to grow because their foundation was the values they learned at Bethel University. Her mission as the leader of the women’s soccer team has always been to influence and be a positive Christian role model for her players. She believes she has done that.

Coming off a fantastic 2024 season, Bethel has been forced to endure numerous budget cuts. Never ones to take a loss lying down, the women’s soccer team is selling ads to keep the travel games on their schedule. The ads will help offset some of the travel expenses they have this fall. There are three tiers of $1000, $500 and $250 for ad space. Many fans and friends have generously agreed to purchase an ad.

There are eleven seniors, and Coach Misty does not want to disappoint them. The team is asking for businesses to be on their back as a walking billboard, listing the sponsors on the back as a thank you.

The 2024 team overcame so much, especially during the playoffs. They lost their goalkeeper during the first round of the national tournament and had a field player come into the game who had never played keeper before. Most teams faced with this kind of obstacle would have shut down; they would have quit. Not Coach Misty’s girls. With the help of the men’s team, they taught a field player to be a goalkeeper in ten days. They went into that game with the determination and grit to win.

Losing was not an option they would consider. They took the #2 team in the nation and went into double-overtime, only losing in the final few minutes of the game. This was a massive accomplishment for this team. These eleven seniors have fought together to overcome everything that stood in their way.

This community needs Bethel, and Bethel needs the community. This community, her church, and her family have made her feel like McKenzie is home. The McKenzie community is vital to Coach Misty; she believes giving back and being involved as much as possible is essential. God saved her six years ago, and through that experience, He gave her a different perspective on life.

Coach Misty has had to overcome, grow and learn to love the new version of herself. She looks at trauma differently; it changes people and makes them choose their future. She believes that God had people intercede on her behalf, and the overwhelming amount of prayer saved her physically and spiritually. She has learned not to be so judgmental.

She also has learned that you only get one shot to be a person of integrity and character and to protect it at all costs. She has always been a fighter, but now she wants to be a fighter for others, like they fought for her and her family. She has learned that life is short and relationships are essential. Everyone has to keep working to be better today than they were yesterday. She is so thankful for the opportunity to work with young adults and make a difference in their lives.

For more information on helping support the women’s soccer team, please email Coach Misty Aird at airdm@bethelu.edu.