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Boston College

Boston College Athletics
Conte Forum 140 Commonwealth Ave Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Division 1 Massachusetts Northeast
Private Medium National competitor

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Chris Watkins

Chris Watkins was named the new head women's soccer coach at Boston College on Dec. 14, 2023. Watkins - one of the top coaches in collegiate women's soccer - arrives at the Heights after a highly successful seven seasons at Gonzaga, where he compiled a 79-33-16 record.


Watkins guided the Zags to the 2023 West Coast Conference championship - the first conference title in the history of the program - en route to Gonzaga's first trip to the NCAA Tournament in nearly two decades. The Bulldogs finished the 2023 campaign with a 14-4-2 overall record and a 6-1-1 mark in WCC play. Included in those six league victories was a 1-0 win over No. 15 Santa Clara in Spokane - which was GU's second-ever win over the perennial women's soccer power.


The Bulldogs boasted one of the nation's top offenses this past season, ranking fourth in Division I in shots on-goal per game (9.1) and sixth in goals per game (2.8). Gonzaga also finished eighth nationally in total goals (56). The Zags set single-season program records in goals scored (56), assists (44), and points (156).


Not only did Watkins construct an imposing offense at GU, but also orchestrated the Bulldogs' defense to become one of the best in program history. During his time in Spokane, Gonzaga significantly improved its goals-allowed and save averages.


Watkins was tabbed as the 2023 WCC Coach of the Year and he and his coaching staff were recognized by the United Soccer Coaches College Services as the 2023 West Region Staff of the Year. It marked the second time in the past three years that the Gonzaga women's soccer coaching staff earned the top regional award.


Named the head coach of Gonzaga women's soccer in December 2016, Watkins immediately made an impact on the trajectory of the Zags' program. During the 2017 season, Gonzaga enjoyed the best start in program history (5-0-1). The team reached the 10-win plateau for the first time since 2007, setting several program records in the process. 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.


After an impressive first two seasons with the Zags, becoming the fastest head coach to reach 20 wins in program history, Watkins continued to reach new heights in 2019 - his third season. The Zags tied a program-record with 12 victories - the most wins since 2005 - and tied a program-best with five WCC wins for the second straight season. The Bulldogs also made a splash in the polls, reaching No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches' West Region poll while also receiving votes in the national poll.


Watkins was named the WCC Co-Coach of the Year in 2020 after posting a 5-2-1 conference record and finishing third in the league. As a result, Gonzaga women's soccer earned the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year award by the United Soccer Coaches College Services program.


In 2021, Watkins led the Zags to the best season in program history to-date, posting a 15-5 overall record and five wins in WCC play. The Zags' offense again re-wrote the program record book, setting new single-season standards for total goals (47), total assists (39), total points (131), total shots (387), goals per game (2.35), and shutouts (12). Gonzaga also reached the highest ranking in history, checking in at No. 16 in the national poll. The Zags reached the 10-win mark for the fifth time under Watkins in 2022, while also matching their best-ever finish in the WCC standings, tying for second place.


Prior to Gonzaga, Watkins was a member of the BYU women's soccer coaching staff from 1996-2016. During his time in Provo, he helped guide the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament 18 times - including a number one seed in 2012 - including two appearances in the Elite Eight and five in the Sweet 16. BYU finished in the national Top 25 poll on 17 occasions and posted a 343-90-36 record during Watkins' tenure. The Cougars 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 1995-2015, compiling an overall record of 304-103-75 in 21-seasons. BYU's men’s soccer team dominated the Collegiate Club Soccer Championships, winning national titles 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 impetus 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, reaching the league's quarterfinals twice. Under Watkins, the Cougars are the only university to participate in the U.S. Open Cup.


As a player, Watkins played for the semi-professional Salt Lake City Flamengo team from 1992-95. He also played for the Utah Blitzz in 2002 and scored the golden goal to win the Western Conference title.


He began his collegiate playing career at Drake, setting the school's single-season scoring record in 1988. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from BYU in 1996.

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Stephanie Demake

Stephanie Demake joined the Boston College women's soccer staff as an assistant coach in June 2023.


Demake spent the previous five seasons as the head coach at Post University, guiding the program to its highest win total in seven seasons in 2022 as well as the program's highest Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) finish since 2015. The Eagles and Demake earned the third seed in the 2022 CACC tournament and set a program record with seven straight wins during the season. In her time at Post, four of Demake's student-athletes were named to CACC All-Conference teams while 20 were CACC All-Academic Team honorees. Additionally, one student-athlete was named to Jamaica's Under-20 Women's National Team roster for the Concacaf Women's Under-20 Championship.


Prior to Post, Demake spent the 2017 season as an assistant coach at Davidson College and from 2014-2016, Demake served as an assistant coach at Troy University and helped the Trojans to an overall mark of 30-10-2. Additionally, Demake has been an assistant at Stetson University, Ohio University and Wheaton College.


The Auburn, Mass. native began her coaching career with NEFC and has spent time coaching with club programs Connecticut Rush Select, Farmington Soccer Association, Lake Norman Soccer Club and Stetson Football Association.


Demake was a three-year member of the Worcester State women's soccer team, helping lead the Lancers to a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championship and the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2007. She was a two-time MASCAC All-Conference honoree and was team captain as a senior. Demake also played one season at Hartford, winning the 2006 America East Championship.


Demake holds an Advanced National Diploma and a National Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches and graduated from the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy program in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Worcester State and Master of Science in Recreation & Sport Sciences from Ohio University.

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