Gonzaga University

Gonzaga University Athletics
502 E. Boone Ave. Spokane, WA 992580066

Division 1 Washington Northwest

Private Small National competitor

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Coaches

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Chris Watkins

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

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

In only his second 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, Watkins proved this program is in good hands after his third season, where the Zags posted another 39 goals and increased their SOG % by .048%. GU took the most shots (314) in a single season in program history.

In his third season as head coach, Watkins continued to reach new heights with the program. 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 in the national polls as they received votes for the first time since 2005 in addition to a program-best No. 3 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches' West Region Poll.

Not only has Watkins led the Zags to an imposing offense, but he has also led GU’s defense to become one of the best in program history. Watkins has helped GU improve its GAA by .66% in the five years he has been at Gonzaga and has also helped increase the Zags’ SV % by .132%.

In his fourth season at GU, he received the WCC Co-Coach of the Year award after posting a 5-2-1 conference record and finishing third in the WCC. This was the first time since 2005 that the Zags finished top-three in the WCC, and second time in program history. Watkins is the second GU coach to receive WCC Coach of the Year honors. 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.

At the helm for his fifth season, Watkins led the Zags to the best season in program history. Tallying a program record 15 wins compared to only five losses, 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 including total goals (47), total assists (39), total points (131), total shots (387), goals per game (2.35), and shutouts (12). The program also reached its highest ranking in history coming in at 16th in the polls. Watkins broke 50 career wins during the season.

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

Watkins was a member of the BYU coaching staff from 1996 to 2016. 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.

Seeking a more competitive environment, Watkins was the driving force behind BYU’s decision to move from collegiate club to semi-pro status in 2003. BYU purchased a Premier Development League franchise, becoming the first university sponsored soccer program to ever acquire a franchise that competes at a level considered higher than NCAA soccer. The team competed in the USL Premier Development League where it reached the Final Eight twice. Under Watkins, the Cougars are the only university to participate in the U.S. Open Cup which they have done three times.

Watkins played for the semi-professional Salt Lake City Flamengo team from 1992 to 1995. He also played for the Utah Blitzz in 2002, and scored the golden goal to win the Western Conference title.

During college, Watkins played at Drake University and held the single-season scoring record. He later received a degree from BYU in psychology. In high school, he was the Gatorade Player of the Year in his home state of Kansas.

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Whitney Pitalo

Pitalo joined the Gonzaga staff in July 2023.

Pitalo was named as the head coach of the Corban women's soccer team in April of 2022. In her lone season as head coach of the Warriors, her staff coached the squad that finished 11-4-3 overall and 7-2-3 in conference play. Corban's defense set single-season team records in fewest goals allowed (12), fewest losses (4) and most shutouts (12).

"I'm excited to join the Zag family and contribute to the continued success of the women's soccer program," Pitalo said. "It's an honor to work for this prestigious institution and under the leadership of Chris Watkins and Katie Benz. I'm looking forward to my first season as a Zag and for the opportunity to work with the talented and dedicated student-athletes of the women's soccer team."

Prior to Corban, Pitalo was at Umpqua Community College, where she served as the head women's soccer coach and assistant athletic director. At UCC, she was tasked with starting the school's women's soccer program, and she recruited and trained a roster that would go on to finish third in the NWAC Southern Region, developing five NWAC All-Stars and securing a playoff berth in the program's first year of existence. Prior to her time there, she was an assistant at nearby Willamette University.

Before her coaching career, she was a standout student-athlete at USC, serving on the Trojan back line as a team captain. During the 2014 season, Pitalo was named the PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Week. She was the recipient of the PAC-12 Postgraduate Scholarship award graduating from USC in 2016, before earning her MBA at Willamette University in 2018.

"Whitney has a lot of successful head coaching experience that she brings to our program," Watkins said. "She's a winner and has proven to do it the right way. She will specifically work with our defense to keep our blue collar, tough approach progressing."

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Katie Benz

After four seasons with Montana, the 2021 season was Katie Benz’s first year as an assistant coach with the Gonzaga women's soccer program.

In her first season at Gonzaga, the Zags earned another six shutouts and improved their GAA to .89. Benz also helped the goalkeepers increase their SV % to .811. Posting those defensive stats allowed the Bulldogs to finish third in the WCC with a record of 5-2-1. This was the first time since 2005 that the Zags have finished top-three in the WCC, and the second time in program history. Benz was also part of the staff that was named West Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches College Services program in 2020-21.

Benz assisted Watkins for the second season together, helping boost the program to new heights. Posting a program record 12 shutouts with the guidance of Benz lead the Zags to another program record of 15 wins on the season. The Zags maintained their solid defense posting another GAA under one with a .95 for the season. Benz also helped lead the goalkeepers to grab 74 saves, the highest in the Watkins' tenure.

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

At Montana, she was on staff for a pair of Big Sky Conference championships, a tournament title in 2018, which sent the program to its first NCAA tournament since 2011, and a regular-season championship in 2019.

In her first season with Montana, in 2017, the Grizzlies finished second in the Big Sky and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals.

Montana has gone 24-22-16 with Benz as an assistant coach. She oversaw the program for four months in early 2018 while the Grizzlies were between head coaches.

Benz spent the 2016 season working as director of operations at Denver, her first year working at the collegiate level, and coaching in the Colorado Rush club program.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but raised in Sonoma, Calif., Benz played collegiately at California.

She scored three goals in her first three seasons playing behind Alex Morgan. Each of those teams advanced to the NCAA tournament.

As a senior in 2011, Benz, a one-time Pac-12 Player of the Week, scored 10 goals in Cal’s first eight matches, including a hat trick against Denver, before suffering a career-ending broken leg midway through a season that concluded with another trip to the NCAAs.

Benz graduated from Cal in 2012 with a degree in legal studies. She spent one year after college writing, recording and touring with the band The Youngest. She is married to Patrick Owen.