Coaching Staff
Eric Watson
Head Coach
Eric Watson enters his third season as the head men’s soccer coach in 2009. Watson has spent his first two years building and shaping a young team to reach new heights of success. In 2008, the team had four more wins then in 2007 and scored more goals than allowed. Watson had one player earn all-conference honors an another garner all-region accolades.
Watson joined the New Paltz staff after spending five years as the head men’s soccer coach at Linfield College in McMinnville, OR. Most recently, Watson has served as the 2008 goalkeeper coach for the US Under-23 Women's National Team.
While at Linfield, he compiled an overall record of 62-24-10. and led his team to the NCAA playoffs in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, Linfield claimed the Northwest Conference (NWC) championship and in 2005 Watson was named the NWC Coach of the Year. Watson also served as the women’s soccer coach in 2002 and 2003. Prior to Lindfield, Watson spent two seasons as the men’s assistant soccer coach at the University of Richmond. He was heavily involved with goalkeeper training, recruiting future players and scouting opponents. From 1998-2000, Watson served as the assistant men's soccer coach at Williams College. The program compiled a 31-3-2 record and reached the NCAA Division III semifinals in 1998 and the quarterfinals in 1999. He has worked extensively as a club coach for F.C. Portland, the Oregon Olympic Development Program, the Regional Olympic Development staff and the Richmond Capitals Club. He holds a Class “A” coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and a goalkeeper diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Watson enjoyed a distinguished playing career at Williams College from 1993-1996. He was a senior captain in 1996 and helped lead his team to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. In1995 his team went undefeated with a record of 17-0-2 and claimed the NCAA Division III National Championship. Williams appeared in the NCAA Division title game in 1993 and posted a 16-1-1 record. Watson received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Williams in 1997 and completed his master's degree in Sport Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002.
Contact Eric Watson at ext. 2342 or watsone@newpaltz.edu.
Gene Ventriglia
Assistant Coach
Husdon Valley soccer legend, Gene Ventriglia returns to the field as a volunteer coach for the men’s program. As a collegiate player, the 1967 graduate of SUNY New Paltz earned three All-America citations and was honored by Soccer Magazine as its player of the year as a senior. He guided the Hawks to the NCAA regional title in 1965, competed at the Pan American Games in the summer of 1967 and was a member of the 1968 Olympic team.
Ventriglia coached 16 years of soccer on the high school level in the Hudson Valley, authoring a phenomenal 233-33-15 career record along with capturing five league and division titles, a pair of sectional and district championships capped with the New York State Class C crown his final year.
In 1985, Ventriglia was hired as the first head coach of the women’s soccer program at West Point. He took over the club team in 1985, raised it to varsity status a year later and went on to compile an impressive 262-164-29 record. The six-time Patriot League “Coach of the Year” guided Army to 15 Patriot League Tournament appearances in the 18 years which the conference has held a league tourney. Ventriglia led Army to two Patriot League Tournament championships in 1993 and 2008, and directed the Black Knights to four regular season conference crowns (1991, 1992, 1993, 2002).
Ventriglia has distinguished himself on the sidelines and ranks among the nation’s coaching leaders in all-time wins. He retired from Army at the end of the 2008 season to spend more time with his wife, Donna, three kids and five grandchildren.
Contact Gene Ventriglia at ext. 2342.
Ryan Lundgren
Assistant Coach
Ryan Lundgren enters his first season as a volenteer coach for the Hawks. Ryan played two seasons in the backfield for the Hawks from 2007-2008.
Ryan started every game the Hawks played in 2007 and 2008.
Prior to New Paltz, he played two seasons for Orange County Community College (OCCC) and was named to the All-Conference First Team in 2006.
Ryan is a 2004 graduate of Valley Central School.
Ryan received his bachelor's degree in 2009 from SUNY New Paltz in public relations.
Contact Ryan Lundgren at ext. 2342.