Chowan University

Murfreesboro, NC 27855

North Carolina Southeast

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Coaches

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Fernando Zuniga

Fernando Zuniga enters his eighth season with the Chowan women's soccer team and sixth as head coach.

The Hawks would post a 5-10-2 overall record and a 5-5-2 league record in 2022. Newcomers, Destiny Makanjoula and Lieke Van den Akker would secure All-Conference selections. Chowan appeared in the Conference Carolinas Quarterfinals for the fifth straight season.

In 2021, Chowan posted a 5-11-1 overall record with a 5-6-1 mark in league play. The Hawks would make a trip to the Conference Carolinas Quarterfinals before falling in the final minutes. Carolina Lucci, Sabrina Henderson, and Cristina Flores would be named All-Conference as Lucci and Henderson would earn D2CCA All-Region honors. Lucci secured her fifth straight All-Conference First Team selection. Lucci would be named CoSIDA Academic All-American. The Program would be earn the USCA Team Academic Award.

During the 2020-21 season, Zuniga led the Hawks to one of their best seasons in program history sporting an 8-2-1 overall record and a 5-1-1 league record for second place in the league tables. Chowan was a perfect 6-0-0 at home and used a program best 7-0-1 stretch. Zuniga returned the Hawks to the Conference Carolinas semifinals while boasting a program best seven Conference Carolinas All-Conference selections. Carolina Lucci became only the second player in league history to be named Conference Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and four-time First Team selection. Sabrina Henderson, Sydney Henderson, and Allison Traub also garnered First Team selections. Michelle Maksimovic picked up a Second Team honor, while Sierra Gonzalez and Sabine Felix earned Third Team honors. The team was also selected as the Chowan Most Outstanding Female(s) Award recipient.

In the 2019 season, Chowan finished with a 4-8-3 overall record and a 4-4-3 mark in the Conference Carolinas. Chowan battled with five regionally ranked opponents (Lincoln Memorial, Limestone, UNC Pembroke, Wingate, and Mount Olive). The Hawks wrapped up the regular season with a 4-1-1 record allowing three goals and four shutouts including a scoreless draw against unbeaten Mount Olive on the road. Carolina Lucci was named Conference Carolinas First Team and USCA All-Region. Asia Fort and Sierra Gonzalez were named Conference Carolinas Third Team.

During his first season as head coach, Chowan finished with a 9-7-1 overall record and a 7-3-1 mark in the Conference Carolinas. The Hawks would make their second straight trip to the Conference Carolinas semifinals, falling to #20 Limestone 1-0. Chowan would pick up their first-ever win against Belmont Abbey on the road, defeating the Crusaders 2-1 in double overtime. Carolina Lucci and Sabrina Henderson produced Conference Carolinas First Team All-Conference selections. Sydney Henderson and Asia Fort picked up Conference Carolinas Third Team honors. Carolina Lucci and Sabrina Henderson earned D2CCA Second Team All-Region honors. Lucci would also be named to the NCCSIA All-State team. Susan Balladares, Olivia Borer, Jaime Calcagno, Asia Fort, Rebekah Langley and Samantha Xiques would be named to the Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference list.

Zuniga competed for the Chowan men's soccer program for four seasons. He made 58 starts for the Chowan Blue and White, was named captain as a junior, and played an integral role in the team's school-record 12-8 season in 2014. The Hawks competed in the NCCAA South Region semi-final that same season. In the spring of his senior year, Zuniga served as a student assistant with the men's soccer program. He assisted with the planning of field training and strength and conditioning sessions. Additionally, he volunteered as part of the Hawks Soccer Academy.

Upon graduation, Zuniga gained coaching experience working with the Hawks Soccer Academy and serving as Head Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer Coach at Ridgecroft School. Zuniga managed all aspects of the varsity and junior varsity girls' and boys' soccer programs including training sessions, skill development, and teaching tactical and technical facets of the game.

He graduated from Chowan in 2015 with a degree in Business Administration and received his masters from Chowan in 2019. During his time at Chowan, Zuniga was an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and was named to the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society, and the President’s List. He was also a Leadership Scholar. Zuniga resides in Murfreesboro.

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Lee Wattam

Lee Wattam joins the Chowan Men’s Soccer coaching staff as a graduate assistant for the 2021 season.

In his first season with the Hawks, Wattam helped the program to their first-ever NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance, Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship, and a program tying 13 wins. Chowan would advance in the NCAA Tournament and appear in the program’s first Sweet 16.

Wattam, a three-year member of the Hawks (2016-18), appeared in 52 caps for the Blue and White recording 16 goals and nine assists during his career. During his time with the Hawks, Wattam earned Conference Carolinas Second Team (2018) and Conference Carolinas Third Team (2017) honors. He was named to the Conference Carolinas All-Academic team and 2017 NCCSIA All-State Second Team.

During the summer, Wattam played for the Florida Kraze (NPSL) in 2015 and the inaugural squad for Greenville FC in 2017. The Leeds, England native spent his formative years playing for Grimsby Academy.

Wattam graduated from Chowan in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Wellness and Sport. He completed his Level II coaching badge in England.

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Chris Whalley

Chris Whalley enters his 10th year at the helm of the Chowan men's soccer team.

In 2022, the Hawks posted a 6-6-5 overall record and a 6-2-3 mark in league action. Chowan would make their sixth straight appearance in the Conference Carolinas Championship. The Hawks would post three players to the All-Conference list including Harri Lovett being named Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year. Lovett and Tren Drexhage would be named D2CCA All-Region as Lovett would earn All-American status, once again, on the field and in the classroom.

Chris Whalley was inducted into the Lees-McRae Athletics Hall of Fame in April of 2022 after leading the Bobcats for five seasons including three NCAA Tournament berths..

The 2021 season provided to be the most memorable for the program posting a program best 13-4-2 overall record and a 9-1-1 record in league play. Whalley guided the Hawks to the program's first-ever Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship defeating Francis Marion 2-1 to secure the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. The Hawks would get a first round bye before advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 after taking down West Florida 13-12 in PKs to advance. Chowan would fall to National Finalist, Nova Southeastern, 1-0 in the Sweet 16 in Young Harris, Ga. The Hawks would finish the season with their highest ever national ranking (14th). Eight Hawks would be named All-Conference headlined by Toby Sims earning his second straight Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year selection and fifth First Team selection. Sims and teammate, Harri Lovett, would be named D2CCA All-Region First Team and USCA All-Region. The pair would earn D2CCA All-American status, while Lovett would also be named CoSIDA Academic All-American honors. Lovett earned Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Sims became the first Hawks signed to play professionally after signing with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the USL. The Program would earn USCA Team Academic Award.

During the 2020-21 season that was completed in the Spring semester, the Hawks posted a 7-2-1 overall record and a 4-1-1 record in league play. Whalley would put his team in position for their fourth straight Conference Carolinas semifinals appearance. The captain, Toby Sims, would become the first Chowan male athlete to be named four time First Team All-Conference. Harrison Ardron and Harri Lovett would also garner First Team selections. Lovett would earn the Conference Carolinas Statistical Champion recording seven assists. London Williams and Devontay Blair earned Third Team selections.

In 2019, Chowan posted an 11-5-1 overall record and an 8-1-1 record in Conference Carolinas play to earn the program’s first-ever Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championship. Whalley and staff would secure home-field advantage for the Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Championship. Toby Sims earned D2CCA Third Team All-American honors after repeating as Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year. Harrison Ardron would earn the program’s first-ever Conference Carolinas Player of the Year honors. Ardron, Sims, and Trevin Myers would be named Conference Carolinas First Team. Joury den Boogert earned Second Team honors, while Sam Hall picked up a Third Team selection.

Harrison Ardron and Toby Sims earned D2CCA All-Region First Team selections, with Trevin Myers being named Second Team.

The 2018 season finished with an 11-4-2 overall record and a 7-3-0 mark in Conference Carolinas play. The Hawks would fall to #19 Limestone in double-overtime in the Conference Carolinas Championship match. During the regular season, Chowan would tie #10 Lander at home. The program would pick up their first major awards as Toby Sims earned Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year and Harrison Ardron was named Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year. The Hawks would pick up nine Conference Carolinas All-Conference selections with Toby Sims and Trevin Myers garnering First Team Honors. Denis Roule and Lee Wattam picked up Second Team, while Harrison Ardron, Harry Garstang, Mitchell Levi Lewis, Elliot Chadderton, and Djordje Novovic picked up Third Team. Sims would earn D2CCA Second Team All-Region honors. Sims and Myers would be named to the NCCSIA All-State team.

During the 2017 season, the Hawks notched the program's best season under Whalley with an 11-5-2 record and was ranked in the NCAA Regional poll, peaking at number six. The Hawks finished with a 5-3-2 record in the first season in Conference Carolinas. Chowan fell to the eventual league Champion, Limestone, in the Conference Carolinas semifinals. The Hawks garnered six to the Conference Carolinas All-Conference list including the program's first-ever First Team selection (James Scott). Whalley helped guide Josh Baker to a United Soccer Coaches Association All-Southeast Region selection.

In 2016, Whalley guided the Hawks to the third straight winning season with a 9-6-2 record with six shutouts. The Hawks posted the third most goals in program history with 40 goals during the season. The Hawks would post a 4-1-1 record at home.

Whalley notched his 100th NCAA Division II head coaching win on October 12, 2016 as the Hawks picked up a tough 1-0 win over Newberry.

During the 2015 season, Whalley saw the program reach new heights as the Hawks posted an 11-7-5 overall record. Chowan captured the NCCAA South Region Championship title for the first time in program history. The team would go unbeaten during the NCCAA National Championship tournament recording two draws.

Ben Chapman, Marco Lujan, Jamie McNicholas, and Terell Williamson were named to the NCCAA All-Tournament team. McNicholas earned NCCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player. Terell Williamson was named NCCAA South Region Player of the Year and selected as a NSCAA/Continental Tire NCCAA Division I All-American.

The Hawks earned NSCAA Team Academic Award for the second straight season.

Chris would earn his 100th career collegiate coaching win on September 21, 2015 as the Hawks picked up a 3-1 victory against Shepherd.

In his first year as head coach, Whalley guided the Hawks to a program best 12-8-0 record in the DII era. Whalley inherited a program that finished 1-14-0 the previous season. The turnaround was the best turnaround amoung Division II programs.

Whalley was awarded Independent Collegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) Coach of the Year. Terell Williamson was named ICAA Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. In addition, the Hawks earned four ICAA Team honors, three NCCAA All-Region Team honors, three NCCAA All-Tournament honors, two Daktronics All-Region Team honors, one ICAA First Team honor, one Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioner’s All-America Second Team honor, two NCCSIA All-State Team honors, and an NCCAA Scholar–Athlete honor.

Prior to Chowan, Whalley served as an assistant coach at Appalachian State University (DI) for two seasons. He assisted with all facets of the men’s soccer program including booster and alumni relations while guiding the Mountaineers to the SoCon quarter and semifinals in 2012.

Before his stint at Appalachian State, Whalley developed training plans and worked with elite level soccer players in Wisconsin as head coach of the FC Milwaukee Nationals of the US Development Academy.

In 2010 and 2011, Whalley was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (DI) where he doubled the squad’s win total from the previous regime and led the team to an upset of nationally ranked Northern Illinois in 2011, marking the first win over a ranked team since 2006.

He had three student-athletes go on to receive professional contracts while the team cumulative grade point average improved to over a 3.0.

Before coaching at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Whalley spent five seasons at Lees-McRae College. He turned a struggling men’s soccer team into a regionally and nationally recognized program. During his tenure, Whalley accumulated a 77-22-11 career record at Lees-McRae.

During the 2009 season, Whalley guided the Bobcats to a #1 National Ranking and NCAA National Runner-Up finish. The Bobcats posted an 18-3-2 record and secured a Conference Carolinas regular season championship for the third straight season. Whalley was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year posting an 8-1-1 record in the league.

The Bobcats suffered a 1-0 loss in the NCAA National Championship game to Fort Lewis.

In 2008, LMC posted a 17-3-3 overall record and posted an unbeaten 9-0-1 record in league play on their way to a Conference Carolinas regular season championship and won the Conference Carolinas Tournament championship. The Bobcats fell in the Southeast Region Championship during the NCAA Division II postseason.

The 2007 season was the most successful in Whalley’s coaching career as he led the Bobcats to a 21-2-1 overall record and a Conference Carolinas regular season title and tournament championship. The Bobcats made an appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 and Elite 8. Whalley was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year, as well as, NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year.

The Bobcats would post 8-7-3 and 8-7-2 overall records in Whalley’s first two seasons at the helm.

His winning percentage of .780 is the best in Lees-McRae soccer history. Whalley remains ranked 5th among NCAA Division II college coaches and 23rd among all college coaches in career winning percentage. He coached 14 All-Americans and 32 All-Region players during his tenure. Whalley would be inducted into the Lees-McRae Hall of Fame in 2022.

In addition to his post with the Bobcats, Whalley served as the head coach of the West Virginia Chaos in the USL Premier Development League and also served as selection chairperson for Division II MLS in 2009.

Prior to his collegiate coaching days, Whalley played professionally for the Reading Rage and the United Soccer League in 2003-04.

Whalley had a successful collegiate playing career at Mercyhurst College where he helped lead the Lakers to the NCAA Division II tournament and an NCAA Final Four appearance in 2002. He was part of two GLIAC championships in 2001 and 2002 and was named First Team All-GLIAC in those same seasons.

Whalley and his wife, Alexis, reside in Suffolk, Va. with their sons, James Jack and George David.

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Josh Baker

Josh Baker enters his third season on the Chowan Men’s Soccer staff and second as an assistant coach.

In 2023, Baker, helped the Hawks achieve their second Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship and second NCAA Tournament appearance after posting an 8-4-6 overall record with a 7-2-2 mark in league play. Baker helped Harri Lovett, Bradley Binns, Chase Janson, Charley Leech, Tylar Elliott and Sam Deacon earn All-Conference honors along an D2CCA All-Region selection for Lovett.

In 2022 as a graduate assistant, the Hawks posted a 6-6-5 overall record and a 6-2-3 mark in league action. Chowan would make their sixth straight appearance in the Conference Carolinas Championship field. The Hawks would post three players to the All-Conference list including Harri Lovett being named Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year. Lovett and Tren Drexhage would be named D2CCA All-Region as Lovett would earn All-American status, once again, on the field and in the classroom.

Baker played at Chowan as a freshman and sophomore for Coach Whalley during 2016 and 2017. Baker picked up the Conference Carolinas Player of the Week Award, All-Conference honors and was named in the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team in 2017. After his sophomore year, Baker transferred to High Point University, NC. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in Sports Management. Baker was a Big-South Regular Season Champion in 2018 and also played in the NCAA Division 1 National Tournament. During the 2018 season the High Point team were nationally ranked 12th in the nation.

Prior to returning to Chowan, Josh served as the Scholarships Operations Manager for a soccer placement company in the U.K. Baker worked closely with football clubs academies around Europe and placed talented players at elite universities in the USA. A number of these players have gone on to sign professional contracts around the world. Two of these players were drafted to Major League Soccer Clubs in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, one being in the top 15 of the first round.

Upon graduating from college, Baker carried on his soccer career playing in both Iceland and the United Kingdom. Josh has featured in the USL 2 playing for St. Louis Lions and Des Moines Menace, where the Menace were named the 2019 USL 2 Regular Season Champions. Baker currently still plays in the USL 2 for Chowan Head Coach, Chris Whalley at Lionsbridge FC. In 2023, Lionsbridge FC were crowned the Chesapeake Division Champions and made it to the USL 2 National Final in Seattle, Wash. The game was played in front of around 4000 fans, Baker scored the game-tying goals in both the USL 2 National Semi-Final, and USL 2 National Final, he was also named man of the match in both games.