Draft:Christopher Noel Watkins

Christopher Noel Watkins

Christopher Noel Watkins (born 30 November 1968), colloquially known as Chris Watkins, is an American soccer coach and former player. Chris is currently the head coach of the Boston College Women's Soccer team. In 2003, Chris became the only collegiate head coach in history to lead a university-sponsored soccer program as they purchased a professional franchise. BYU, under Coach Watkins, competed in the Premier Development League (now known as USL League Two) from 2003 to 2017 (Chris was the Head Coach from 2003 to 2016). At BYU, Chris also became the first and only collegiate coach to take a university-sponsored program to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2005, 2007, and 2015.

As a player, Chris fits best as a forward and generally plays as a classic number 9.

Playing Career

College Career

Drake University

In High School at Shawnee Mission South High School, Chris was selected as the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year for Soccer, which in part led to him being recruited to play soccer at Drake University in Iowa. Chris maintained his status as an instinctive goal-scorer at Drake, breaking the school's single-season scoring record as a freshman. After a successful single season, Chris transferred to BYU.

Brigham Young University (BYU)

After transferring to BYU on the back of his record-breaking season at Drake University, Chris played for a single season at BYU. At BYU, Chris was a star forward for the team; however, a lack of good record-keeping has limited statistics available for a full assessment of that season.

Professional Career

Flamengo SC (Sandy, UT)

After a single season at BYU, Chris was left seeking a more challenging environment. He remained a student at BYU but chose to play for the semi-professional Salt Lake City-based Flamengo SC team from 1992 to 1995. Chris generally started as Flamengo's striker for those four seasons.

During his time at Flamengo, the team qualified for and played in the 1992 and 1995 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. In both editions, Flamengo finished their campaign in the Regional Semi-final round. In 1995, the club closed, and Chris was hired as the head coach of the BYU Men's Soccer team.

Utah Blitzz

In 2002, Chris demonstrated his unwavering commitment to soccer by coaching both the Men's and Women's teams at BYU. His dedication was further proven when the Utah Blitzz, a professional team, approached Chris about signing with the team. The Blitzz offered Chris a contract allowing him to play for the team while also excusing him from specific duties so Chris could adequately fulfill his coaching duties.

During Chris' single season with the Blitzz, he averaged a goal every two games. Among the goals he scored was the "Golden Goal" to win the Western Conference Championship for the Blitzz. The BIitzz's opponent in that final was the San Diego Gauchos, who boasted a certain Herculez Gomez, who would make 24 Caps for the United States Men's National Team.

Coaching Career

BYU Men's Soccer

Chris's leadership and coaching skills were evident during his 21-year tenure as the head coach of the BYU men's soccer team, from 1995-2015. Under his guidance, the team achieved a combined record of 304-103-75. Chris's coaching prowess was further highlighted by BYU's dominance in the Collegiate Club Soccer Championships for a decade, winning the National Championship in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001. During that period, BYU went on an unprecedented and record-breaking run of 30 straight victories at the Club National Championships.

Chris was the driving force behind BYU's decision to switch from collegiate club to semi-pro status in 2003. BYU purchased a Premier Development League franchise, becoming the first university-sponsored soccer program to acquire a franchise that competes at a level considered higher than NCAA soccer. BYU, under Chris, competed in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), reaching the PDL quarterfinals twice and winning the 2007 PDL Northwest Division League Championship. Under Watkins, the Cougars are the only university to participate in the U.S. Open Cup, which they have done three times.

Chris's BYU team organized games against professional teams at home. Also, it represented the university by traveling internationally to Spain, Holland, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, and Fiji, where they would play professional teams and participate in service opportunities.

At home, Chris coached the Cougars in matches against the England Championship League side Coventry City (in 2006), the Fiji National Team (in 2007), the Mexico U-21 National team (2010), and multiple times against the local Real Salt Lake.

Internationally, Chris coached BYU in 2001 as they played six games in Spain and Holland, winning four, tying one, and losing one, against Vallecas, FC Sittard, Minor Nuth, and the B teams from Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona. Other notable professional clubs Chris coached against include Club America, Pachuca, and the reserves of Cruz Azul in 2002, as well as Fijian clubs Ba FC, Suva FC, and the Fiji U-21 National Side.

Chris departed the BYU Men's Soccer program to focus on the Women's program in 2016 after accepting the role of associate head coach.

BYU Women's Soccer

Chris was hired to the Women's in 1996 as an assistant coach to then and current head coach Jennifer Rockwood. This was just a year after he began as the head coach of the Men's team. For 20 years, he coached both programs at BYU. BYU hired Chris because he brought impressive professional and collegiate credentials to a young but talented Women's Cougar squad.

As a BYU assistant coach, Watkins helped the Cougars to 17 trips to the NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 1 seed in 2012 -- the program’s highest seed ever. BYU finished 2003 and 2012 ranked fifth in the country. The Cougars were No. 9 in the final NSCAA Coaches’ Poll last season. Watkins was hired as an assistant at BYU in 1996.

In 2013, Chris was promoted to associate head coach and helped guide the Cougars to a Top-5 national ranking in 2013 and 2017. After being promoted to associate head coach, BYU has amassed a record of 47-11-6, and BYU appeared in five straight NCAA Tournaments and won five consecutive West Coast Conference titles.

During his full-time with the BYU women, the Cougars claimed 13 conference championships and made the NCAA Tournament 18 times, including two appearances in the Elite Eight and five in the Sweet 16. BYU has finished in the national Top 25 17 times and boasted a 343-90-36 record since 1996. The Cougars had 21 NSCAA All-Americans and seven Academic All-Americans, while Chris was a coaching staff member.

Gonzaga Women's Soccer

Watkins was named head coach of Gonzaga women’s soccer in December 2016, and In his first season, the Zags won 10 games for the first time since 2007. It is only the sixth time in program history that GU reached double-digit wins a season. The Bulldogs had the best start to a season in program history and broke several team records. Among the records broken were: Gonzaga scored the most goals (39), made the most assists (30), totaled the most points (108), and took the most shots (312) in a single season in program history in 2017.

In the 2018 season, Watkins became the fastest head coach to reach 20 wins in a career in program history.

After having an impressive first two seasons with the Zags, in 201, the Zags posted another 39 goals and increased their SOG % by .048%, and the Zags took the most shots (314) in a single season in program history. The Zags posted their third-straight double-digit win season with a program-record-tying 12 victories, the most wins by the Bulldogs since 2005, and collected a program-tying five WCC wins for the second straight season. The Zags also made a splash nationally as they received votes for the NCAA Top-25 poll for the first time since 2005, in addition to a program-best No. 3 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches' West Region Poll.

In his fourth season at GU, he received the WCC Co-Coach of the Year award after an impressive 5-2-1 conference record, 15 total wins, and a third-place finish in the WCC. It was the first time since 2005 that the Zags finished in the top three in the WCC and the second time in program history. After a successful season and bringing in WCC honors, Watkins and his staff were named the West Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches College Services program.

Watkins again led the Zags to the best season in program history in his 5th season. Tallying the program record 15 wins he had previously set, Gonzaga only registered five total losses that season while also registering five conference wins for the fourth straight season. The Zags' offense reached a new peak under Watkins, breaking a majority of the club’s previous records, many of which were already set under his tenure, including total goals (47), total assists (39), total points (131), total shots (387), goals per game (2.35), and shutouts (12). The program reached its highest ranking in history, 16th in the National Poll. Watkins broke 50 career wins during the season.

In the 2022 season, the Zags matched their best WCC finish in program history and reached ten wins for the 10th time. It was the fifth time GU had won 10 matches in six seasons, the sole exception being the shortened COVID season in the spring of 2021. It was the best conference finish by winning percentage in program history.

Chris' final season at Gonzaga was the 2023 season. His No. 19 Gonzaga claimed the program's first-ever West Coast Conference title that season. The Zags (13-3-2, 6-1-1 West Coast Conference) earned the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The program's second-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament and the first since 2005. That season, the Zags set new single-season scoring (56), assist (44), and point total (156) program records. Gonzaga, under Chris, won six conference games in a season for the first time in program history, and the side's 14 victories, including their first-round NCAA Tournament win, was the second-most behind 2021's 15 wins. The success of the 2023 season led to Chris being named the WCC Coach of the Year for the second time, and he and his staff were named the 2023 West Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches College Services.

Boston College Women's Soccer

In 2023, Chris left Gonzaga for Boston College. Midway through his first season (2024), Chris has led the program to its most wins since 2018.

Honors

Playing Career

Personal

• Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year (Soccer)
• Drake University Single Season Goalscoring Record (Formerly)

Team

• 2002 D3 Pro League: Western Conference Championship (Utah Blitzz)

Coaching Career

-Personal-

• 2020 WCC Co-Coach of the Year
• 2023 WCC Coach of the Year
• 2023 United Soccer Coaches West Region: Staff of the Year

-Team-

BYU Men (Club):

• 1996 National Champions
• 1997 National Champions
• 1998 National Champions
• 1999 National Champions
• 2001 National Champions

BYU Men (USL PDL):

• 2007 PDL Northwest Division League Championship

Tournament Championships

• 1996 Western Athletic Conference Tournament Champions
• 1999 Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions
• 2000 Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions
• 2001 Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions
• 2002 Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions
• 2007 Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions
• 2008 Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions
• 2010 Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions

Conference Championships

• 1999 Mountain West Conference Champions
• 2000 Mountain West Conference Champions
• 2001 Mountain West Conference Champions
• 2002 Mountain West Conference Champions
• 2008 Mountain West Conference Champions
• 2009 Mountain West Conference Champions
• 2012 West Coast Conference Champions
• 2013 West Coast Conference Champions
• 2014 West Coast Conference Champions
• 2015 West Coast Conference Champions
• 2016 West Coast Conference Champions

Gonzaga Women:

• 2023 West Coast Conference Champions

Boston College Women:

• TBD