Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: S. J. Carrera, Inc.
Witkowski Elevated to Associate Head Coach
2/1/2022 11:10:00 AM | Men's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's soccer's Krystian Witkowski has been promoted to the program's associate head coach position, head coach Russell Payne announced this month.
"Krystian is a true professional," Payne said. "He's got tremendous character, and he cares immensely about the student-athletes and building relationships at all different levels. He's earned this title, and his loyalty to the program and to his relationships is going to serve him well as he continues to grow as a top-level soccer coach."
Witkowski followed Payne to Evanston last January as an assistant coach after spending four year's on Payne's staff at Army West Point. In his first year with the Wildcats, he oversaw major strides in the Northwestern offense with forward Justin Weiss leading the Big Ten in goals per game, en route to first team All-Big Ten honors, and midfielder Vicente Castro finishing second in the conference in assists per game. Witkowski also helped midfielder Collin McCamy earn unanimous All-Big Ten Freshman Team recognition, the first such honors for a Wildcat first-year since Richie Bennett in 2018.
Witkowski played a major role in the development of Army's 2020 class, which featured the program's first-ever Major League Soccer Superdraft selection and one of the program's all-time best scorers. Zac McGraw was selected in the third round by the Portland Timbers following his 2019 senior season, while Keenan O'Shea wrapped up his collegiate career ranked inside the Top-10 for program history in career points (60), goals (23) and assists (14). Both were All-Patriot League performers in the 2019 season as the duo garnered second team accolades.
He was also instrumental in the Black Knights' recruiting efforts during his time with the program, highlighted by back-to-back national ranked recruiting classes: 2021 class ranked No. 24 by Top Drawer Soccer & 2020 class ranked No. 18 by Top Drawer Soccer. Northwestern's newest recruiting class has been ranked No. 15 by Top Drawer Soccer.
Witkowski has MLS experience both as a player and coach, having served as a performance analyst with the New York Red Bulls after playing for the Philadelphia Union.
Playing for Marist from 2008-11, Witkowski was a three-time All-MAAC First Team selection and a two-time NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region Second Team honoree. He also earned CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District First Team and Second Team nods during the 2011 and 2010 seasons, respectively. The Rochester, N.Y., native was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team in three of his four seasons as well. He later served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for three seasons.
"Krystian is a true professional," Payne said. "He's got tremendous character, and he cares immensely about the student-athletes and building relationships at all different levels. He's earned this title, and his loyalty to the program and to his relationships is going to serve him well as he continues to grow as a top-level soccer coach."
Witkowski followed Payne to Evanston last January as an assistant coach after spending four year's on Payne's staff at Army West Point. In his first year with the Wildcats, he oversaw major strides in the Northwestern offense with forward Justin Weiss leading the Big Ten in goals per game, en route to first team All-Big Ten honors, and midfielder Vicente Castro finishing second in the conference in assists per game. Witkowski also helped midfielder Collin McCamy earn unanimous All-Big Ten Freshman Team recognition, the first such honors for a Wildcat first-year since Richie Bennett in 2018.
Witkowski played a major role in the development of Army's 2020 class, which featured the program's first-ever Major League Soccer Superdraft selection and one of the program's all-time best scorers. Zac McGraw was selected in the third round by the Portland Timbers following his 2019 senior season, while Keenan O'Shea wrapped up his collegiate career ranked inside the Top-10 for program history in career points (60), goals (23) and assists (14). Both were All-Patriot League performers in the 2019 season as the duo garnered second team accolades.
He was also instrumental in the Black Knights' recruiting efforts during his time with the program, highlighted by back-to-back national ranked recruiting classes: 2021 class ranked No. 24 by Top Drawer Soccer & 2020 class ranked No. 18 by Top Drawer Soccer. Northwestern's newest recruiting class has been ranked No. 15 by Top Drawer Soccer.
Witkowski has MLS experience both as a player and coach, having served as a performance analyst with the New York Red Bulls after playing for the Philadelphia Union.
Playing for Marist from 2008-11, Witkowski was a three-time All-MAAC First Team selection and a two-time NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region Second Team honoree. He also earned CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District First Team and Second Team nods during the 2011 and 2010 seasons, respectively. The Rochester, N.Y., native was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team in three of his four seasons as well. He later served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for three seasons.
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