Scott Williams Named Cal Poly Women's Soccer Associate Head Coach

Scott Williams Named Cal Poly Women's Soccer Associate Head Coach

1/14/2025 5:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — A familiar face will be joining Cal Poly women’s soccer first-year head coach Bernardo Silva on the sidelines as part of his inaugural coaching staff.

Scott Williams, a member of the Cal Poly women’s soccer staff since 2015, has been named the program’s associate head coach. Williams served in the same role for the program the previous three seasons, helping the Mustangs reach historic heights by capturing Big West regular season championships in 2021 and 2022.

His enthusiasm for the new vision that I plan to bring to Cal Poly was felt during the interview process making him a tremendous asset for our program.

Bernardo Silva, Cal Poly Women's Soccer Head Coach

"I could not be more excited to add Scott Williams to my staff here at Cal Poly,” said Silva, named the program’s head coach on Dec. 21. “Scott has been an integral part to the success of the women's soccer program in recent years. He’s as a man of character, brilliant recruiter, and an outstanding coach. Trust and loyalty are two big factors for me when it comes to putting a staff together for our amazing young women, and he checks both of those boxes. His enthusiasm for the new vision that I plan to bring to Cal Poly was felt during the interview process making him a tremendous asset for our program as we look to push and elevate to higher levels regionally and nationally."

Williams and Silva served as assistants together on the Mustang women’s soccer staff during the 2015 and 2016 seasons under legendary head coach Alex Crozier. Now the two are reunited and Williams said he’s thrilled to work alongside Silva once again and be part of this new era for Mustang women’s soccer.

“I’m very much looking forward to joining Coach Silva's staff,” Williams said. “We have always enjoyed a strong professional relationship since our time at Cal Poly together as assistant coaches. I identify and align with his vision on the path forward for this program, and I look forward to working with him in creating the best possible environment for women's soccer student athletes at Cal Poly to excel in the classroom and on the field.”

I want to extend a thank you to Coach Alex Crozier for taking a chance on a young coach several years ago. His guidance and leadership helped shaped me into the person I am today, and allowed me the opportunity to be a part of this family.

Scott Williams, Cal Poly Women's Soccer Associate Head Coach

Williams, who will be entering his fourth season as associate head coach this fall, first joined the women’s soccer coaching staff in 2015 as a volunteer assistant after completing his master’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Cal Poly and was promoted to assistant coach in 2017. In 2021, Williams helped led a resurgence of the program as the Mustangs secured a share of their first Big West regular season championship in eight years, earned their most victories in a season since 2009 (13-8-0) and advanced to their first Big West tournament title match in 12 years. Williams was promoted to associate head coach in March 2022 following the historic campaign.

Cal Poly built off that success during the 2022 season, capturing their first outright Big West regular season title since 2013 and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. It marked just the second time in program history the Mustangs earned at least a share of the conference regular season title in back-to-back years. With Williams’ help, the Mustangs built one of their most formidable defenses in program history during the 2022 season, recording 10 shutouts — the program’s most in a season since 2009 — and seven clean sheets in Big West regular season play, a program record. During a two-week stretch that season, the Mustangs posted four straight shutouts, their longest streak since 2009, and the team also ended the regular season on a seven-match unbeaten streak (5-0-2).

“Cal Poly holds a very special place in my heart,” Williams said. “I love this school and what it represents, and the commitment to excellence in all aspects is inspiring to me as a coach and as an individual. I want to extend a thank you to Coach Alex Crozier for taking a chance on a young coach several years ago. His guidance and leadership helped shaped me into the person I am today, and allowed me the opportunity to be a part of this family.”

I believe whole-heartedly that under his leadership, this program is going places.

Scott Williams, Cal Poly Women's Soccer Associate Head Coach

In 2023, Williams assisted the Mustangs en route to their ninth Big West Championship match appearance, tied for the most all-time in conference history. Cal Poly also established a new program record for players to record a point in a season (21), matched a 27-year-old program record for goal scorers in a season (15) and for the first time in program history finished with six or more wins in Big West play for the third consecutive season (6-3-1).

“In speaking with Coach Silva throughout the interview process, I was impressed with his level of clarity and detail for the future of this program,” Williams said. “I believe whole-heartedly that under his leadership, this program is going places. In addition, I believe that my strengths as a coach will be well utilized and are important to help move this program forward.”

Since joining the staff, Williams has overseen 32 All-Big West honorees, 13 Big West All-Freshman selections and 13 All-West Region selections. Additionally, off the pitch, Williams has seen the Mustangs receive 85 Big West All-Academic Team selections during his tenure.

A former four-year starter at left back and midfielder on the Westmont College men’s soccer team from 2007-10, Williams brought his experience playing those positions to the Mustangs and had an immediate impact, mentoring numerous high-level student-athletes on the pitch. Most recently, Williams assisted with the development of midfielder Camille Lafaix and defender Emma Brown. Lafaix wrapped up an historic career as a Mustang in 2022 by earning her second straight United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team selection, becoming just the third player in program history to secure multiple All-West Region First Team selections. Lafaix was crowned Big West Midfielder of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2021-22) — the first player in conference history to do so. After graduating from Cal Poly in 2023, Lafaix signed a professional contract with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in France and currently plays for Rangers FC in Scotland’s top division. This fall, Brown finished up a remarkable career on Cal Poly’s backline by earning her third straight All-Big West First Team selection, becoming just the fourth Mustang in program history to receive at least three All-Big West First Team selections. In 2023, Brown became the fifth Mustang in program history and first since 2009 to be named Big West Defensive Player of the Year. The three-time All-West Region selection ended her career with over 6,735 minutes on the pitch without receiving a card, playing every minute in 67 matches.

Williams graduated from Westmont in 2011 with his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and served as an assistant coach on the Mustang men’s soccer staff from 2013-2014 prior to joining the women’s soccer staff in 2015.

“I just want to emphasize my thanks to Coach Alex Crozier for his leadership and his unbelievable stewardship of this program for the last 33 years,” Williams said. “I feel honored to be a part of the previous era, and look forward to helping build on that incredible foundation already built. Ride High!”