The coach behind WWU soccer's decades of success

From playing on a team with his brother as a child to competing in a professional indoor league to coaching at Western Washington University, Travis Connell has dedicated his life to soccer.

Despite Connell’s lifelong involvement in soccer, becoming a coach wasn’t always his plan.

“I was an art major in college. I was a painter selling paintings. My parents were dreamers so they were always like ‘Yeah go follow your dreams!’” Connell said. “I didn’t worry about what my career was going to be, I was doing what I enjoyed.”

Connell’s career trajectory changed after his old youth soccer teammate, Brad Swanson, former Western men’s soccer head coach, invited him to help coach. Once he joined, Connell realized he loved working with college-age students.

“This age group of people is very engaging,” Connell said. “You’re experiencing things for your first time and you’re living on your own for your first time and making mistakes and learning from them.”

Travis Connell has spent 28 seasons with Western’s soccer programs. He joined the men's team as an assistant coach in 1996 and was promoted to head coach in 1999.

In 2002, Connell also took over as head coach of the women’s team. After the 2012 season, he shifted his full focus to leading the women's program only.

Reflecting on his time coaching the men’s and women’s teams at the same time, Connell credited the experience with much of his growth.

“I was coaching 500 games in that period of time, so the quantity of coaching sped up my development,” Connell said. “I got lots of experience in a short amount of time and that certainly helps.”

Since 2004, Connell has led WWU to 20 consecutive seasons with more wins than losses. Connell attributed his continuous success to the players.

“As coaches, we create a structure, but that is just a platform. The players have taken it to the next level of mentoring the next group that comes through,” Connell said. “They enjoy that and feel fulfilled by that role of perpetuating the culture.”

Claire Potter, a third-year on the women’s team, shared a similar sentiment.

“It’s not just my team that’s been successful, it’s every team that has come before us. That’s the culture he has created,” Potter said. “He empowers us to be leaders and step up into new roles on the team, and then as people get older that trickles down.”

Under Connell, the women’s team won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016 and 2022. 

“It feels great, and it’s a good memory for them, and I wish more kids could have that because I know how many kids deserve it,” Connell said. “To get some of that feeling because of all the sacrifices they made for their sport and their teammates.”

Emily Fojo, a second-year player, recalled Connell’s advice when she tore her ACL in 2023.

“Through being on Travis’s team, I’ve learned that you need to encounter hard things and try new things,” Fojo said. “It’s going to be different and you have to be able to take a step back and look at it from a different perspective and learn how this could be helping you.”

Although Connell did not pursue art as his career, he feels he channels his creativity through coaching, which is something Fojo has noticed while playing for him.

“He looks at the game in such an almost artistic way, it’s very free, there are endless options and possibilities when you’re playing,” Fojo said. “He wants us to look at a play and see something different and create from that. I think that freedom makes his coaching style really special.”

Outside of coaching, Connell spends his time with his wife and three kids by going out for dinner and walks. He does like to have fun with his soccer family too.

“He knows how to make soccer fun and entertaining, but then he’s also serious, motivates us and encourages us to try new things and get better.” Potter said. “His personality is so genuine, I know everything he says to me he truly means.”

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