Soccer Camps at SFA
Head Coach
Wally Crittenden
Head Coach
Experience: 1st year
Alma Mater: Florida International
Former Texas A&M assistant Wally Crittenden has been named the eighth Stephen F. Austin head soccer coach in school history.
Crittenden has spent the past three seasons in College Station assisting a nationally ranked Texas A&M team that has recorded a combined 52-16-6 (.743) record. During that stretch the Aggies won two Big 12 crowns, and the 2012 SEC West Division title, advancing to the NCAA Championships all three seasons. The Aggies climbed as high fifth in the polls, and set program records for most shutouts in a season, most consecutive scoreless minutes and fewest goals allowed.
Crittenden helped guide a Texas A&M defense that ranked among the nation's elite in their transition to a new conference. The Aggies led the league and finished fifth nationally in scoring with a 0.51 goals against average.
While on staff with the Aggies, Crittenden was also the Technical Director for both the Challenge and Texans Aggieland divisions. The club divisions aimed to help extend the access to top-level coaching and player development opportunities to the young players of College Station and surrounding rural areas.
Another major initiative that Crittenden was passionate about while in College Station was the creation of the Brazos Valley Youth Sports Foundation, which offered a youth leadership institute, amongst other free programming, to area youth ages 13-18. Crittenden was recognized as a 2012 University of Nebraska Young Alumni Award Winner for his contributions in starting this non-profit.
Prior to his move to the Lone Star State, Crittenden made coaching stops at University of Oklahoma and the University of Nebraska. During his time in Norman, Okla., Crittenden made a name for himself as defensive-minded coach. The Sooners set program records for fewest goals against, lowest goals against average and most shutouts by a goalkeeper.
Crittenden has also served on the coaching and instructor staffs for the South Texas Youth Soccer Association, the Region III ODP Staff the ECNL PDP staff, as well as at Lynn University.
Crittenden is an active member in the USSF (United States Soccer Federation), where he has earned a USSF "A" License and a National Goalkeeper Certificate. He is also an active member of the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association), where he has earned the NSCAA National Goalkeeper Certificate.
Crittenden received his Bachelors of Education Degree in Sports Management from Florida International University (1998-03), where he also played soccer from 1998-02. In the 1998 season he was named an Under-18 ODP All-American and was a member of the US Under-20 National Team. Crittenden received his Masters Degree in Higher Education from the University of Nebraska (2007-10).
