Chris Watkins

Watkins was named head coach of Gonzaga women’s soccer in December of 2016.

In only his second season, Chris Watkins became the fastest head coach to reach 20 wins in a career in program history.

In his first season as head coach, the Zags reached the 10-win plateau for the first time since 2007. It was 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. 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.

Watkins was a member of the BYU coaching staff since 1996. In 2013, he was promoted to associate head coach and helped guide the Cougars to a Top-5 national ranking last season, before ending the year in the Sweet 16. Since being promoted to associate head coach, BYU has amassed a record of 47-11-6. The Cougars have appeared in five straight NCAA Tournaments and won five consecutive West Coast Conference titles.

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.

During his time with the BYU women, the Cougars have won 13 conference championships, 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 boasts a 343-90-36 record since 1996. The Cougars have had 21 NSCAA All-Americans and seven Academic All-Americans while Watkins was a member of the staff.

Watkins was also the head coach for the BYU men’s soccer team from 1995 to 2015, compiling an overall record of 304-103-75 over the 21-year span. The men’s soccer team dominated the Collegiate Club Soccer Championships, winning National Championships in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001, including an unprecedented run of 30 straight victories at the Club National Championships.