Reigning SUNYAC Coach of the Year Named Utica Men's Soccer Head Coach
Utica, N.Y.
Utica, NY. –Utica College Athletic Director Jim Spartano announced the hiring of Eric Watson as the new head coach of the men’s soccer program Friday. Watson joins the Utica men’s soccer staff after spending the last four years as the head coach at SUNY New Paltz. Watson comes to Utica with a wealth of experience including nine full seasons as a head coach and he also has two conference Coach of the Year Awards to his credit.
“We are excited to welcome Eric into the Utica College family,” said Spartano. “His experience speaks for itself and we really feel like he is going to be a good fit for our student-athletes and the campus community as a whole.”
Watson will replace former UC Head Coach Joe Calabrese who accepted a position as the Head Coach at Endicott College this Spring. The Pioneers enjoyed their most successful season in program-history this past fall after posting a school-record 12-6-1 overall record. UC also finished ranked sixth in the nation in scoring offense with 55 goals and an average of 2.89 goals per game.
The Eric Watson File
Watson holds an 88-63-19 overall record, which also includes a successful five year coaching stint at 
Linfield. During the past four years at New Paltz, the Hawks posted a combined record of 25-39-8 overall and Watson was named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year in 2010 after leading the Hawks to an 8-9-1 overall ledger.
Watson, who is currently an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's U23 National Team, is also the owner and operator of Erock Soccer. In addition, he also serves as the NSCAA Scholar-Athlete All-America East Region Chairman.
As the head coach at Linfield in McMinnville, Ore., Watson compiled an overall record of 62-24-10 and led his team to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, Linfield picked up the Northwest Conference (NWC) Championship and Watson was later named NWC Coach of the Year.
Watson also served as the Head Coach of the women’s soccer program at Linfield in 2002 and 2003. Before joining Linfield, Watson spent two seasons as the men’s assistant soccer coach at the University of Richmond. He was involved with goalkeeper training, recruiting and scouting opponents. From 1998-2000, Watson served as the assistant men’s soccer coach at Williams College. The Ephs posted a combined record of 32-3-2 and reached the NCAA DIII semifinals in 1998 and the quarterfinals in 1999.
He also worked as a club coach for F.C. Portland, the Oregon Olympic Development staff and the Richmond Capitals club. Watson holds a class “A” coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and a goalkeeper diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
As a player, Watson enjoyed a distinguished career at Williams College from 1993-1996. He was a senior captain in 1996 and helped his team reach the NCAA DIII quarterfinals. In 1995, his team went undefeated with a record of 17-0-2 and claimed the NCAA Division III National Championship. Williams appeared in the NCAA title game in 1993 and posted a 16-1-1 record on its way there.
Watson received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Williams College in 1997 and completed his master’s degree in Sport Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002.