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Ben Willis (soccer)

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Ben Willis
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Willis
Date of birth (1996-01-01) January 1, 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Federal Way, Washington, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2018 Gonzaga Bulldogs 56 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Lane United 15 (0)
2018 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 9 (0)
2019–2020 Rio Grande Valley FC 4 (0)
Managerial career
2022–2023 Ballard FC (assistant)
2022–2024 Puget Sound Loggers (women's assistant/goalkeeping)
2024 Oly Town W League
2024– Lexington SC Super League
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 26, 2019

Benjamin Willis (born January 1, 1996) is an American soccer player and coach who is currently the head coach of Oly Town FC's USL W League side and an assistant for the University of Puget Sound Loggers women's team.

Career

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Youth and college

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Willis played four years of college soccer at Gonzaga University between 2014 and 2018, including a red-shirted year in 2014, making 56 appearances.[1]

While at college, Willis appeared for USL Premier Development League side Lane United in 2016 and 2017,[2] and Seattle Sounders FC U-23 in 2018.[3]

Professional

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On February 8, 2019, Willis signed for USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC.[4] Willis earned his first career win and shutout against Oklahoma City Energy on October 13. Willis won USL Save of the Week in Week 26 of the USL Championship Season. He finished second in voting for USL Championship Save of the Month in September. He was also a finalist for USL Championship Week 33 Save of the Week.

Coaching

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After retiring from professional soccer, Willis began coaching for Bellevue College in the Northwest Athletic Conference. He began coaching for Ballard FC in the USL League Two in 2022, where he was the goalkeeping coach until 2023.[5] During the college seasons, he is a current assistant coach and goalkeeper coach for the women's soccer team at University of Puget Sound.[6][7]

In January 2024, Willis was named head coach of Oly Town FC's USL W League team.[8]

On August 8, 2024, Willis joined the staff of Lexington SC's USL Super League side as an assistant and goalkeeping coach.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Ben Willis - Men's Soccer". gozags.com. Gonzaga University Athletics. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "Lane United FC - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - # - Ben Willis -". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  3. ^ "Sounders FC U23 - 2018 Regular Season - Roster - #1 - Benjamin Willis - GK". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  4. ^ "Former Men's Soccer GK Willis Signs Pro Contract". gozags.com. Gonzaga University Athletics. February 8, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Technical Staff".
  6. ^ "2023 Women's Soccer Roster".
  7. ^ "Puget Sound Loggers bio". LoggerAthletics.com. University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Oly Town FC Signs New USL W Head Coach Ben Willis". OlyTownFC.com. Oly Town. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  9. ^ Lilian, D. "Lexington SC appoints Benjamin Willis as USL Super League Assistant Coach". LexSporting.com. Lexington SC. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
[edit]
  • [1] Gonzaga bio
  • [2] RGVFC Toros bio


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