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Dec. 5, 2012

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University women's soccer coach Travis Connell has been named the 2012 National Soccer Coaches Association of American NCAA Division II West Region Coach of the Year.

The 39-year-old Connell directed the Vikings to a 19-4 record, the victory total being a school record, Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and the West Regional title game. That matched the school's best post-season run since WWU became a full NCAA member in 1998.

The Vikings, who ranked No.13 nationally in the final NSCAA Top 25 Poll, lost 2-1 in overtime to UC San Diego in the regional final. UCSD advanced to the national championship contest before losing 1-0 to West Florida.

WWU ranked No.1 nationally in goals against average (0.39), second in save percentage (89.2) and third in shutout percentage (69.6). The Vikings, who outscored their opponents 47-9, posted 16 shutouts, 10 of them in a row when they had a scoreless string of 919 minutes and 29 seconds and a season-best 10-game winning streak.

During the season, Connell became the winningest women's soccer coach in school history, upping his 10-year record to 121-59-19, 65.6 percent.

Connell also earned the NSCAA regional coaching honor in 2008 when WWU reached the regional final. He was named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2008.

This fall, Connell completed his 14th season as the school's men's coach. His 125 wins are the most by any coach in that program and he is a three-time GNAC Coach of the Year.