TARLETON STATE WOMEN'S ASSISTANT COACH | REX CARRELL
When the 2024 season begins, Rex Carrell will enter his fourth year as an assistant soccer coach at Tarleton State University. Carrell became the first person in school history to hold the role when he joined Pete Cuadrado’s staff in 2021.
In his role, Carrell assisted in all facets of program operations, including equipment, team schedules, on-campus recruiting and day-to-day office tasks. Carrell played an active role in assembling Tarleton’s inaugural 24-player recruiting class. He also helped oversee the organization and execution of the first youth soccer camps in school history.
Tarleton State faced a mighty schedule in 2023, squaring off against a Power Five opponent for the first time in school history against the BIG 12's, Houston Cougars. The Texans ultimately fell, 4-1, but scoring a goal against a BIG 12 program in its second year of existence was a big accomplishment for Tarleton State.
As a team, the Texans led the WAC in total saves (139) and tied for the lead in fewest offside calls (19). The Purple and White had the fewest fouls in conference games (49) and second fewest in all games (125). The squad's 89 corner kicks was the fifth most in the WAC in the 2023 season. In total, the Texans scored 21 goals on 156 shots, with 79 coming on goal.
In the Texans notched six wins in its inaugural season. The Texans knocked off Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 6-0, in the program’s first regular season game at the Tarleton Soccer Complex on Aug. 25, 2022. The Texans earned a pair of ties in the first two WAC games against ACU and Utah Tech. The Purple and White notched their first conference on the road with a 4-1 victory at Stephen F. Austin. On the same road trip, the Texans claimed a 2-0 shutout against UTRGV to close the season on a two-game win streak.
Individually, Mila Bettinelli was named to the Freshman All-WAC Team, the program's first selection of a WAC postseason award. Bettinelli finished the season sixth in goals (8) and 10th in points (17) in the WAC. Kiki Baurmann finished third in the league with seven assists. In goal, Mikayla Kendall ranked fifth in shutouts (5) and ninth in total saves (60). As a squad, the Texans finished third in the conference in goals against average.
The Anthem, Arizona, native, was invaluable in shaping the foundation of the program throughout the 2021-22 year ahead of its debut Division I season.
Carrell, who holds a US Soccer National C License and USC level 2 goalkeeping diploma, arrived in Stephenville following a two-year stint at NCAA Division III Gustavus Adolphus College as an assistant men’s soccer coach. He also coached on the club soccer circuit during the 2020-21 season, serving as an assistant coach with the Gretna Elite Academy U23 Women in Omaha, Nebraska.
Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Carrell played two seasons at Nebraska Wesleyan University as a midfielder and defender from 2015-2016.
With Carrell in an assistant coaching role, Gustavus put together one of the finest seasons in school history during the 2019 campaign. Carrell helped guide Gustavus to an 18-3-1 overall record and garner Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) regular season and playoff championships. The Golden Gusties’ 18 wins were the sixth-most nationally among all Division III programs. Gustavus then advanced to the Round of 32 in the 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament following its regular season run.
Individually, the Golden Gusties were fueled by a pair of All-Americans in Matthew Gibbons and Cole Schwartz. That season under Carrell, Gibbons amassed eight goals and 17 assists while Schwartz scored 24 goals and dished out seven assists. The duo combined for 88 of Gustavus’ 155 total points and were a part of a record-setting offense. Gustavus’ set single-season records in points (155), goals scored (76) and clean sheets (8). Carrell also coached five All-MIAC players during his first season in St. Peter and saw four athletes earn All-Region accolades.
Gustavus finished its COVID-condensed spring 2021 season with a 7-0 record against MIAC competition in Carrell’s final year in Minnesota. With Carell in an assistant coaching role, Schwartz was named a CoSIDA Academic.
During his time at Gustavus, Carrell primarily worked with the program’s defenders and goalkeepers and assisted the head coach with film breakdowns and presentations. He also served as Gustavus’ director of operations and Reserve Team head coach.
Carrell got his first taste working with Division I women’s soccer players in his two seasons with Gretna. The club’s 2020 roster was comprised of 31 current or soon-to-be Division I athletes, including 2018 WAC Freshman of the Year Rylan Childers and 2019 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Syd Cassalia. Carrell executed daily training sessions and worked directly with Gretna’s goalkeepers.
In 2021, Gretna used a high-octane offense to post a runner-up finish in the UWS Central Conference with a 4-2-2 overall record. The team scored 24 goals in just eight games. Three players - Jaylyn Armstrong, Lyndsey Prokop and Emma Willson - received UWS All-Central Conference first team accolades at the season’s end. Carrell again mentored Division I standouts in his second summer in Nebraska. Among the players he coached were 2019 Big East Freshman of the Year Skyler Heinrich and 2019 Big 10 All-Freshman Team honoree Kenzie Coons.
Carrell transitioned to the sideline during his final two years at NWU. He spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Prairie Wolves. During his time in Lincoln, Carrell handled equipment and game day operations while also assisting with recruiting and acting as the program’s social media manager.
Carrell graduated from NWU in 2019 with a degree in sport management. He earned a master’s degree in sport administration from Arkansas State University in 2020.