Krystian Witkowski begins his third season overseeing the Fairfield University men's soccer program after accepting the head coaching position in January of 2024.
In 2025, Witkowski led the Stags to an 8-5-5 overall record and a 5-1-4 mark in the MAAC, finishing the regular season with an eight-game unbeaten streak. The Stags went 4-0-4 in those final games and added one more to the streak with a 4-1 win over Niagara University in a conference quarterfinal match. Fairfield nearly extended the game one more time but fell to Sacred Heart by a 4-3 count in overtime in the semifinal round. The Stags split a pair of matches against nationally-ranked opponents in 2025, falling to #9 and defending national champion Vermont before defeating #17 Marist University two games later. He owns a 1-1-1 record against teams in the national poll since joining the Fairfield program.
In his first season, the Stags completed the 2024 campaign with a 3-9-5 overall record and a 2-3-3 MAAC slate, sporting a 3-3-5 record over the team's final 11 games of the campaign. He started that run with a 3-1 road victory against Columbia to pick up his first win as the Stags' head coach. He followed up by playing #24 UConn to a 0-0 draw on the road before posting his first conference with a 2-1 decision over Marist University.
Witkowski spent three seasons as a member of the Northwestern University coaching staff before arriving on the Fairfield campus, accepting the first assistant coaching position before being promoted to Associate Head Coach. The Wildcats achieved a great deal of success during his tenure, highlighted by the team’s 10-4-3 overall record in 2023 – the program’s best mark since the 2008 campaign. As a result of that success, Northwestern garnered its highest United Soccer Coaches Poll ranking at number 12 and was listed among the nation’s top 25 in six of 11 weeks.
While the Wildcats received national recognition as a team, many of the student-athletes that Witkowski coached also earned national and regional honors. He mentored five All-North Region selections as well as numerous All-Big Ten picks during his stay. In his first two seasons with the program, Witkowski helped engineer two nationally-ranked recruiting class that ranked fifth in 2022 and sixth in 2023.
Witkowski’s coaching resume also includes a four-year year stint at Army West Point, where he again built nationally-ranked recruiting classes from 2020-22. The program achieved unprecedented success during his time at West Point, as the team finished 2018 as the Patriot League Championship runner-up and earned the best RPI ranking in school history at number 19 out of 206 teams in 2017. Many student- athletes went on to collect honors during Witkowski’s stay, including 11 All-Conference selections, three All-Academic choices, four All-Region picks, and two Regional All-America players.
Witkowski started his coaching career at his alma mater Marist College where he assisted from 2013-16. In his final year, the Red Foxes hosted their first-ever home playoff game in program history in the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship after posting 11 wins.
The Rochester, N.Y. native made his mark in the professional ranks as well, serving as a Performance Analyst with the New York Red Bulls II. In that position, he analyzed footage for the purposes of scouting and match preparation as well as on-field metrics that supported player development. He also played a role in the planning and execution of New York Red Bulls II training sessions.
Witkowski spent one season with the Philadelphia Union after being selected in the 2012 Major League Soccer Draft.
He played his collegiate soccer from 2008-11 at Marist where was a three-time All-MAAC First Team student-athlete as well as a two-time NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region Second Team player. He secured three MAAC All-Academic Team honors as well as a slot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District teams in 2010 and 2011. He also played for the U-18 Polish National Team.
On campus, Witkowski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Marist College in 2013 as well as a Master’s of Science degree in Sports Management from Columbia University in 2016.
Witkowski and his wife, Jessie, have a son Leo Anthony.
What they are saying:
Russell Payne, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Northwestern University
“Krystian consistently displays the essential character attributes needed to serve our student-athletes and work collaboratively in competitive high academic environments. He displays pride in his daily professional approach and care in developing genuine and lasting relationships with student-athletes and co-workers. He is a competitive, tactically astute coach who can build connections with student-athletes and effectively communicate at an impactful level. Krystian’s ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with student-athletes and their families is second to none. The elite-level character and coaching qualities of Krystian Witkowski will further enhance the elite-level standards at Fairfield University. I wish success for Krystian, Jessie, their son Leo, and the Fairfield University Men’s Soccer program.”
Jim McElderry, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Rutgers University and Fairfield University Class of ‘93
“I am very excited about the future of Fairfield Men’s Soccer with Krystian leading the program. He is a proven recruiter and has built tremendous relationships in the college soccer community. I know he will be a success and add to the rich soccer history at Fairfield University.”
Matt Viggiano, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Marist College
“I could not be happier for Krystian, Jessie, and Leo. Fairfield is getting a tremendous young coach who checks all the boxes with his time spent at the pro level, working at top-notch academic institutions, and being an elite player. Combined with being a tremendous human, Coach Witkowski will be a fantastic asset to the University, the men’s soccer program, and the MAAC.”
