Beth Perine

Position: Associate Head Coach Graduating Year: 1982 (Ohio State)

Beth Perine begins her 18th season with the Bears after joining the staff in October of 1995. As associate head coach, Perine is involved in overseeing all aspects of the program, with primary responsibilities in the areas of developing catchers and outfielders and recruiting. Perine also serves as third base coach for the Bears.

Perine plays a valuable role in player development at Missouri State. She oversees the academic progress of each student-athlete, as well as organizing the community service efforts of the team. The Bears participate in a variety of community service projects during the year.

Also involved in the community herself, Perine serves as the Vice President of Events for the Women's Intersport Network of Springfield, an organization committed to the promotion of girls and women in sport. Perine is also involved in raising money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.

Perine came on board with the Bears in time to experience three of the most successful seasons in school history from 1996 to 1998, with MSU winning back-to-back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles and advancing to the NCAA Tournament each year.

A 1982 graduate of Ohio State University, Perine possesses a wealth of experience, having coached 30 years on the NCAA Division I level, including four seasons as a head coach, before coming to Missouri State. Perine served as head softball coach at Eastern Illinois University from 1991 to 1995, leading the Panthers to four straight 20-win seasons. During her tenure, EIU had two all-region and 11 all-conference honorees, in addition to 24 academic all-conference picks.

Before taking the Eastern Illinois job, Perine served as assistant softball coach at Penn State University from 1986 to 1991 and helped the Lady Lions to the Atlantic 10 Conference championship in 1988. She earned her master's degree in counseling education from Penn State in 1989 with a 4.00 grade-point average.

Perine also spent three years as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Ohio State, from 1983 to 1986.