Building Champions
 Crittenden Joins Aggie Soccer Staff

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July 28, 2010

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Wally Crittenden joins the Texas A&M soccer program as its volunteer assistant, head coach G Guerrieri announced Wednesday.

A native of Houston and currently the technical director of the Aggieland Texans Soccer Club, Crittenden spent the previous three years as a full-time assistant at Nebraska where he worked as the goalkeeping/defensive coach.

"I am very excited about adding Wally to our Aggie soccer coaching staff," commented Guerrieri. "He brings additional energy, experience and inner drive to an already great staff."

In his three seasons at Nebraska, Crittenden directed NU goalkeepers to 12 shutouts and launched the Nebraska Soccer Booster Club, an organization that gave fans new and exciting opportunities to support the Huskers.

Crittenden joined the Husker program after working with Oklahoma women's soccer in 2005 and 2006, helping the Sooners to 14 shutouts over his last two seasons. Prior to his time at OU, Crittenden was extremely active at various levels of soccer, including high school, Olympic Development and NCAA Division II.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity to join the Aggie soccer family and the privilege to work with a championship-caliber program," said Crittenden. "I'm very familiar with G and his staff and I'm also thrilled to be joining such an innovative athletic department led by Bill Byrne and his team."

Crittenden began his career on the men's goalkeeping staff for the Region III Olympic Development team beginning in 1999, and has since added coaching credentials as a men's assistant at NCAA Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., head coach of the women's team at Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena, Texas, and as a staff member for the South Texas Olympic Development men's team.

Born in Jackson, Miss., Crittenden grew up in Houston and graduated from Clear Lake High School. He went on to a successful collegiate career at Florida International (1998-2002) as he lettered all four years as a goalkeeper for the Panthers. Crittenden earned his bachelor's degree in education with an emphasis in sport management in 2003 and is expected to graduate with a master's degree in higher education administration from Nebraska this fall.

 

 

During his playing career, Crittenden also earned accolades as a U-18 ODP All-American and a member of the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team. Crittenden has also competed professionally in trials with Major League Soccer's Miami Fusion and DC United.

Crittenden is certified by the U.S. Soccer Federation with his "A" license and goalkeeping license, and also obtained his National Goalkeeping Certification through the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America).

Crittenden fills the spot vacated by volunteer assistant Allison Martino. He is joined in College Station by his wife, Cori `02, and their two children, Kellen (2) and Bridget Fiona who was born June 23, 2010.

"Wally and I go way back," Guerrieri continued. "I first coached him when he was just 11 years old and have been so impressed with his development into a great leader and father. He has worked with us in our camp setting for many years and fits perfectly with our program's standards, goals and ambitions. The fact that his wife (Cori) is an Aggie just makes this a perfect situation for our entire Aggie soccer family."

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