Nike Boys Soccer Camp at Fairfield University

The Wildcats achieved a great deal of success during his tenure, highlighted by the team's 10-4-3 overall record in 2023 – the program's best mark since the 2008 campaign. As a result of that success, Northwestern garnered its highest United Soccer Coaches Poll ranking at number 12 and was listed among the nation's top 25 in six of 11 weeks.

While the Wildcats received national recognition as a team, many of the student-athletes that Witkowski coached also earned national and regional honors. He mentored five All-North Region selections as well as numerous All-Big Ten picks during his stay. In his first two seasons with the program, Witkowski helped engineer two nationally-ranked recruiting class that ranked fifth in 2022 and sixth in 2023.

"I am humbled and thrilled to have been selected as the next Head Men's Soccer Coach at Fairfield University," said Witkowski. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to President Nemec, Paul Schlickmann, Zach Dayton, and the entire search committee for entrusting me with the great responsibility of leading the next generation of Fairfield's men's soccer players. I would also like to thank Russell Payne for his unwavering support and mentorship throughout the years and wish the Northwestern University Men's Soccer team continued success. We will build upon the strong foundation established by Carl Rees, guiding our student-athletes in their daily pursuit of excellence and achieving new heights both in the classroom and on the pitch. My family and I are eager to serve Fairfield University and the entire Fairfield community."

Witkowski's coaching resume also includes a four-year year stint at Army West Point, where he again built nationally-ranked recruiting classes from 2020-22. The program achieved unprecedented success during his time at West Point, as the team finished 2018 as the Patriot League Championship runner-up and earned the best RPI ranking in school history at number 19 out of 206 teams in 2017. Many student-athletes went on to collect honors during Witkowski's stay, including 11 All-Conference selections, three All-Academic choices, four All-Region picks, and two Regional All-America players.

Witkowski started his coaching career at his alma mater Marist College where he assisted from 2013-16. In his final year, the Red Foxes hosted their first-ever home playoff game in program history in the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship after posting 11 wins.

The Rochester, N.Y. native made his mark in the professional ranks as well, serving as a Performance Analyst with the New York Red Bulls II. In that position, he analyzed footage for the purposes of scouting and match preparation as well as on-field metrics that supported player development. He also played a role in the planning and execution of New York Red Bulls II training sessions.

Witkowski spent one season with the Philadelphia Union after being selected in the 2012 Major League Soccer Draft. He played his collegiate soccer from 2008-11 at Marist where was a three-time All-MAAC First Team student-athlete as well as a two-time NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region Second Team player. He secured three MAAC All-Academic Team honors as well as a slot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District teams in 2010 and 2011. He also played for the U-18 Polish National Team.

On campus, Witkowski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Marist College in 2013 as well as a Master's of Science degree in Sports Management from Columbia University in 2016.

Krystian and his wife, Jessie, come to Fairfield with their son Leo Anthony Witkowski.

What they're saying:

Russell Payne, Head Men's Soccer Coach at Northwestern University
"Krystian consistently displays the essential character attributes needed to serve our student-athletes and work collaboratively in competitive high academic environments. He displays pride in his daily professional approach and care in developing genuine and lasting relationships with student-athletes and co-workers. He is a competitive, tactically astute coach who can build connections with student-athletes and effectively communicate at an impactful level. Krystian's ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with student-athletes and their families is second to none. The elite-level character and coaching qualities of Krystian Witkowski will further enhance the elite-level standards at Fairfield University. I wish success for Krystian, Jessie, their son Leo, and the Fairfield University Men's Soccer program."

Jim McElderry, Head Men's Soccer Coach at Rutgers University and Fairfield University Class of '93
"I am very excited about the future of Fairfield Men's Soccer with Krystian leading the program. He is a proven recruiter and has built tremendous relationships in the college soccer community. I know he will be a success and add to the rich soccer history at Fairfield University."

Matt Viggiano, Head Men's Soccer Coach at Marist College
"I could not be happier for Krystian, Jessie, and Leo. Fairfield is getting a tremendous young coach who checks all the boxes with his time spent at the pro level, working at top-notch academic institutions, and being an elite player. Combined with being a tremendous human, Coach Witkowski will be a fantastic asset to the University, the men's soccer program, and the MAAC."

His extensive coaching experience spans across all levels of NCAA soccer including last season where he led the Mount Saint Vincent to an 8-5-4 overall record and a 6-2-3 conference mark. The Dolphins put together an eight-game unbeaten streak at the end of the regular season that sent the team into the Skyline Conference championship game. Mount Saint Vincent finished the campaign ranked 10^th in the nation for goals against average, allowing 0.87 goals per game.

Before accepting the post at Mount Saint Vincent, Raj served six seasons as an assistant coach at Fairfield University beginning with the 2017 campaign. In that season, he helped the team post a 12-5-3 overall record and capture the 2017 MAAC Regular Season title. The team went on to win the 2017 MAAC Championship and collect a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

In 2018, the Stags captured the MAAC regular season title for the second straight season after going unbeaten in conference play enroute to an 11-5-2 overall record. The Stags defeated ninth-ranked University of North Carolina-Wilmington during the campaign.

Prior to Fairfield, Johnny spent two seasons as an Assistant Coach at the University of Bridgeport under coaches Brian Quinn and Peter Doneit.

Raj was a four-year varsity soccer player at Fairfield University, beginning with the 2009 season. He earned three First Team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) honors as a defender following his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He started in every single game with one exception when he was sidelined due to an ankle injury. He served as a captain his final three years with the program, guiding the program to MAAC regular-season and tournament title during his career.

He was a First Team New England All Region as a junior and a senior as well as making the Herman Trophy Watchlist going into his senior year.

Raj also spent a summer playing for the Chicago Fire in the PDL serving as club captain in which they reached the quarterfinal of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as an amateur side eventually falling to eventual champion Sporting Kansas City.

He also spent a year with Reading United as well as CFC Azul out of Connecticut again serving as a captain.

He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Master in Public Administration from Fairfield as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Bridgeport.

Raj played with the New Zealand U20 national team before deciding to enroll at Fairfield University. He was also a part of New Zealand's Auckland City FC who were winners of the Oceania Federation and earned a berth to the FIFA Club World Cup.

Raj resides in Fairfield with his wife Kathleen and two dogs, Pearl and Koda.

Paolini most recently served as the Mount Saint Vincent’s top assistant coach where he helped the Dolphins reach as high as 10^th nationally in Division III for Goals Against Average before finishing 18^th with a 0.68 mark through 20 matches.

He also guided three Mount St. Vincent student-athletes to All-Skyline First Team honors including Ian Lamas who finished third in the country for shots on goal per game with 2.93 per match. Justin Betancourt and Donovan Speer also were selected to the All-Skyline First Team in 2023.

As a student-athlete, Paolini contributed to both Post University and Sacred Heart University and helped the programs achieve success. He played a pivotal role in helping Post secure the CACC Regular Season Championship which led to the spot in the Division II NCAA tournament. While there, the Eagles advanced to the Round of 16 before falling in extra time which also represented the farthest run in the NCAA tournament in school history.

After leaving the collegiate game, Paolini took on captaincy roles for the Westchester Flames and AC Connecticut’s USL2 teams, while also going on trials with several professional clubs in the United States. One of his playing career stops came with Lansdowne Yonkers F.C. where he won the Fricker Cup and National Championship. He also participated in two consecutive U.S. Open Cup tournaments, competing against opponents such as Rochester FC and Hartford Athletic.

He currently works with Revolution United, a Premier level club in Fairfield where he strategically plans which foster player development while creating a positive environment.

Paolini is a native of Fairfield Country and currently resides in Seymour, CT.

Botterill was a highly-decorated goalkeeper during his four-year stay at Fairfield, earning a pair of goalkeeper of the year awards (2018 & 2020) by vote of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) head coaches. He also secured a berth to the All-MAAC postseason team all four years that he donned a Stags uniform.

He finished his Fairfield career with 229 saves in his 60 appearances, averaging 3.8 saves per game over his career. He owned a .779 save percentage and a 1.04 goals against average during his four years, allowing just 65 goals and posting 21 shutouts. He tallied a career-best 86 saves in his junior campaign, averaging just over five saves per outing. He currently holds the school record for career shutouts with 23.

He continued his collegiate career by attending the University of California-Irvine where he earned more honors for his play. In his single season with the program, he posted a 0.91 goals against average and was named the Big West Goalkeeper of the Year following the 2021 season. He stopped four of eight penalty kicks that year. He capped the year with 64 saves highlighted by his 10 stops against #5 Georgetown in his debut with UC-Irvine.

In January 2023, Botterill signed professionally with Queen of the South FC in Scotland where he played for 18 months

Botterill earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in business analytics from Fairfield University in 2021. He followed with a master’s degree from UC Irvine.