Fairfield University Men's Soccer

Jake Lichter was named the Head Coach of Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving at Fairfield University in June, 2024. He brings with him extensive collegiate coaching experience across all levels.  Lichter led the Fairfield University swimming programs to a sweep of the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships, overseeing the women's fifth MAAC title and the men's first conference championship in school history. He was named the MAAC Swimming Coach of the Year for both the men's and women's programs following the 2026 campaign. In his first season with the Stags, both the men's and women's swimming and diving teams posted a 5-3 record with the women taking second place and the men's securing third place at the 2025 MAAC Championships. Lichter comes to Fairfield University after spending the six seasons at Cornell University in various capacities. He joined the Big Red program as an assistant men's swimming coach for the 2018-19 season, a role he held for four seasons. He was elevated to the Assistant Head Coach of men's swimming in the spring of 2022 and served in that role until his arrival at Fairfield University. During his time with the Big Red, Lichter helped two individuals capture Ivy League titles in addition to seeing student-athletes set 10 school records and post over 100 top-ten performances. His team also earned high academic honors achieving a 3.6 average GPA during the 2023-2024 academic year. He started his coaching career at Ithaca College where he accepted the assistant coaching position for men's swimming during the 2013-14 season. During his tenure with Ithaca College, the program qualified 10 athletes for the Division III NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. After one season, he became the assistant women’s swimming coach and assistant aquatics director at Wellesley College, beginning with the 2014-15 campaign. Lichter remained at Wellesley until he moved back to Ithaca for a position as the head coach of Swim Ithaca which he founded in 2012. Lichter supervised a coaching staff of five and 60 swimmers including national-level athletes from the summer of 2016 to the fall of 2018. He returned to Ithaca College for the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach where he helped the team secure a third-place finish in the Liberty League Championships and coached four Liberty League champions. Following his stint at Ithaca College, he moved crosstown to Cornell University as the assistant coach. Lichter earned his bachelor of science degree in Sports Management from Ithaca College in May, 2013.  

Krystian Witkowski became Fairfield University head men’s soccer coach in January 2024. Witkowski brings extensive coaching experience both at the Division I and professional ranks to Stag Country. "After an extensive and highly competitive national search, I am excited to announce Krystian as the next head coach of our men’s soccer program,” Schlickmann said. “Krystian possesses a high soccer IQ, is an elite recruiter and owns a clear track record of success at each step in his competitive and professional journey. Krystian articulated a comprehensive vision for Fairfield men’s soccer to achieve competitive prominence with adherence to a modern, holistic, student-athlete approach that aligns seamlessly with our University values and our Department culture. We are thrilled to welcome him, his wife Jessie and their son Leo to our Stags family.” “We have terrific momentum within Athletics at this time and our Men's Soccer program is poised for success," said University President Mark R. Nemec. "Krystian's experience in Major League Soccer, his significant coaching contributions at Northwestern and Army West Point, and his deep commitment to the holistic formation of student-athletes, make him the perfect candidate for us. We are all very excited that Krystian will be joining us, and are confidently looking forward to making strides in the seasons to come.” Witkowski spent three seasons as a member of the Northwestern University coaching staff before arriving on the Fairfield campus, accepting the first assistant coaching position before being promoted to Associate Head Coach. The Wildcats achieved a great deal of success during his tenure, highlighted by the team’s 10-4-3 overall record in 2023 – the program’s best mark since the 2008 campaign. As a result of that success, Northwestern garnered its highest United Soccer Coaches Poll ranking at number 12 and was listed among the nation’s top 25 in six of 11 weeks. While the Wildcats received national recognition as a team, many of the student-athletes that Witkowski coached also earned na>onal and regional honors. He mentored five All-North Region selections as well as numerous All-Big Ten picks during his stay. In his first two seasons with the program, Witkowski helped engineer two nationally-ranked recruiting class that ranked fifth in 2022 and sixth in 2023. Witkowski’s coaching resume also includes a four-year year stint at Army West Point, where he again built nationally-ranked recruiting classes from 2020-22. The program achieved unprecedented success during his time at West Point, as the team finished 2018 as the Patriot League Championship runner-up and earned the best RPI ranking in school history at number 19 out of 206 teams in 2017. Many student- athletes went on to collect honors during Witkowski’s stay, including 11 All-Conference selections, three All-Academic choices, four All-Region picks, and two Regional All-America players. Witkowski started his coaching career at his alma mater Marist College where he assisted from 2013-16. In his final year, the Red Foxes hosted their first-ever home playoff game in program history in the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship after posting 11 wins. The Rochester, N.Y. native made his mark in the professional ranks as well, serving as a Performance Analyst with the New York Red Bulls II. In that position, he analyzed footage for the purposes of scouting and match preparation as well as on-field metrics that supported player development. He also played a role in the planning and execution of New York Red Bulls II training sessions. Witkowski spent one season with the Philadelphia Union after being selected in the 2012 Major League Soccer Draft. He played his collegiate soccer from 2008-11 at Marist where was a three-time All-MAAC First Team student-athlete as well as a two-time NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region Second Team player. He secured three MAAC All-Academic Team honors as well as a slot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District teams in 2010 and 2011. He also played for the U-18 Polish National Team. On campus, Witkowski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Marist College in 2013 as well as a Master’s of Science degree in Sports Management from Columbia University in 2016. Krystian and his wife, Jessie, come to Fairfield with their son Leo Anthony Witkowski.   What they are saying: Russell Payne, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Northwestern University “Krys>an consistently displays the essential character attributes needed to serve our student-athletes and work collaboratively in competitive high academic environments. He displays pride in his daily professional approach and care in developing genuine and lasting relationships with student-athletes and co-workers. He is a competitive, tactically astute coach who can build connections with student-athletes and effectively communicate at an impactful level. Krystian’s ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with student-athletes and their families is second to none. The elite-level character and coaching qualities of Krystian Witkowski will further enhance the elite-level standards at Fairfield University. I wish success for Krystian, Jessie, their son Leo, and the Fairfield University Men’s Soccer program.” Jim McElderry, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Rutgers University and Fairfield University Class of ‘93 “I am very excited about the future of Fairfield Men’s Soccer with Krys>an leading the program. He is a proven recruiter and has built tremendous relationships in the college soccer community. I know he will be a success and add to the rich soccer history at Fairfield University.” Matt Viggiano, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Marist College “I could not be happier for Krystian, Jessie, and Leo. Fairfield is getting a tremendous young coach who checks all the boxes with his time spent at the pro level, working at top-notch academic institutions, and being an elite player. Combined with being a tremendous human, Coach Witkowski will be a fantastic asset to the University, the men’s soccer program, and the MAAC.”  

Johnny Raj returns to the Fairfield University men's soccer program as an assistant coach after spending last season as the head coach at University of Mount Saint Vincent. His extensive coaching experience spans across all levels of NCAA soccer including last season where he led the Mount Saint Vincent to an 8-5-4 overall record and a 6-2-3 conference mark. The Dolphins put together an eight-game unbeaten streak at the end of the regular season that sent the team into the Skyline Conference championship game. Mount Saint Vincent finished the campaign ranked 10th in the nation for goals against average, allowing 0.87 goals per game.   Before accepting the post at Mount Saint Vincent, Raj served six seasons as an assistant coach at Fairfield University beginning with the 2017 campaign. In that season, he helped the team post a 12-5-3 overall record and capture the 2017 MAAC Regular Season title. The team went on to win the 2017 MAAC Championship and collect a bid to the NCAA Tournament. In 2018, the Stags captured the MAAC regular season title for the second straight season after going unbeaten in conference play enroute to an 11-5-2 overall record. The Stags defeated ninth-ranked University of North Carolina-Wilmington during the campaign.   Prior to Fairfield, Johnny spent two seasons as an Assistant Coach at the University of Bridgeport under coaches Brian Quinn and Peter Doneit.   Raj was a four-year varsity soccer player at Fairfield University, beginning with the 2009 season. He earned three First Team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) honors as a defender following his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He started in every single game with one exception when he was sidelined due to an ankle injury. He served as a captain his final three years with the program, guiding the program to MAAC regular-season and tournament title during his career.   He was a First Team New England All Region as a junior and a senior as well as making the Herman Trophy Watchlist going into his senior year.    Raj also spent a summer playing for the Chicago Fire in the PDL serving as club captain in which they reached the quarterfinal of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as an amateur side eventually falling to eventual champion Sporting Kansas City.   He also spent a year with Reading United as well as CFC Azul out of Connecticut again serving as a captain.   He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Master in Public Administration from Fairfield as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Bridgeport. Raj played with the New Zealand U20 national team before deciding to enroll at Fairfield University. He was also a part of New Zealand's Auckland City FC who were winners of the Oceania Federation and earned a berth to the FIFA Club World Cup.   Raj resides in Fairfield with his wife Kathleen and two dogs, Pearl and Koda.

Anthony Paolini joined the Fairfield University men's soccer program in July of 2024. Paolini brings a great deal of insight and experience to the program particularly in the area of player development and video analysis. He served as the Mount Saint Vincent’s top assistant coach where he helped the Dolphins reach as high as 10th nationally in Division III for Goals Against Average before finishing 18th with a 0.68 mark through 20 matches. He also guided three Mount St. Vincent student-athletes to All-Skyline First Team honors including  Ian Lamas who finished third in the country for shots on goal per game with 2.93 per match. Justin Betancourt and Donovan Speer also were selected to the All-Skyline First Team in 2023. As a student-athlete, Paolini contributed to both Post University and Sacred Heart University and helped the programs achieve success. He played a pivotal role in helping Post secure the CACC Regular Season Championship which led to the spot in the Division II NCAA tournament. While there, the Eagles advanced to the Round of 16 before falling in extra time which also represented the farthest run in the NCAA tournament in school history. After leaving the collegiate game, Paolini took on captaincy roles for the Westchester Flames and AC Connecticut’s USL2 teams, while also going on trials with several professional clubs in the United States. One of his playing career stops came with Lansdowne Yonkers F.C. where he won the Fricker Cup and National Championship. He also participated in two consecutive U.S. Open Cup tournaments, competing against opponents such as Rochester FC and Hartford Athletic. He currently works with Revolution United, a Premier level club in Fairfield where he strategically plans which foster player development while creating a positive environment. Paolini is a native of Fairfield Country and currently resides in Seymour, CT.  

Gordon Botterill, a former goalkeeper for the Fairfield University men’s soccer team, returned to campus to serve as an assistant coach for the Stags beginning with the 2024 season. Botterill was a highly-decorated goalkeeper during his four-year stay at Fairfield, earning a pair of goalkeeper of the year awards (2018 & 2020) by vote of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) head coaches. He also secured a berth to the All-MAAC postseason team all four years that he donned a Stags uniform. He finished his Fairfield career with 229 saves in his 60 appearances, averaging 3.8 saves per game over his career. He owned a .779 save percentage and a 1.04 goals against average during his four years, allowing just 65 goals and posting 21 shutouts. He tallied a career-best 86 saves in his junior campaign, averaging just over five saves per outing. He currently holds the school record for career shutouts with 23. He continued his collegiate career by attending the University of California-Irvine where he earned more honors for his play. In his single season with the program, he posted a 0.91 goals against average and was named the Big West Goalkeeper of the Year following the 2021 season. He stopped four of eight penalty kicks that year. He capped the year with 64 saves highlighted by his 10 stops against #5 Georgetown in his debut with UC-Irvine. In January 2023, Botterill signed professionally with Queen of the South FC in Scotland where he played for 18 months Botterill earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in business analytics from Fairfield University in 2021. He followed with a master’s degree from UC Irvine.  

               Emma Brown joined the Fairfield University men’s and women’s swimming program as an assistant coach beginning with the 2024-25 season. A graduate of Adelphi University, Brown brings experience both in the water as a competitor as well as on the pool deck as a coach.                She comes to Fairfield after serving as an assistant coach with the Raleigh Swim Association where she began her tenure in May of 2023. Under her guidance, 12 athletes qualified for the North Carolina Age Group Championship meet and five also earned a berth in the Age Group Sectionals.                Brown garnered collegiate experience as an assistant coach as a member of the LIU staff during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns. She was involved in all aspects of planning and executing LIU’s training and recruiting programs for both the men’s and women’s teams.                As a student-athlete, Brown competed at Adelphi University where she competed for four seasons through the 2019-20 season. She established school record throughout her career, beginning with the 100 and 200 fly as well as being part of the 200y medley relay team. In her junior season, Brown also helped set school marks with the 200y and 400y free relay teams. She also excelled in the classroom, earning a spot on the Northeast-10 Academic Honor Roll as well as the Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll all four seasons she competed.                Brown was graduated from Adelphi University with a bachelor of arts degree in Anthropology with a minor in Public Health & Forensic Anthropology.  

A two-time MAAC Diving Coach of the Year, Devon O’Nalty returns for his seventh season with the Stags in 2025-26. While working primarily with the divers, O’Nalty has been integral to the success of both the men’s and women’s programs as a whole. He was on the deck for a pair of MAAC Championships for the women (2020, 2023) and the men’s best-ever finish at the conference meet (2nd, 2022).   Under his leadership in 2023-24, Fairfield divers swept the major awards at the MAAC Championship. Alexis Gaulin '24 earned Most Outstanding Female Diver after winning both the 1M and 3M titles, while Lily Tonole '27 was tabbed as Female Diving Rookie of the Meet after posting top-six finishes off of both boards.   On the men’s side, Andrew Cataldo '27 claimed both Most Outstanding Male Diver and Diving Rookie of the Meet, respectively, as he won the 3M crown and placed fourth in the 1M Dive. For his efforts, O’Nalty was named MAAC Diving Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.   O’Nalty was also named MAAC Diving Coach of the Year in 2022 and the ECAC Diving Coach of the Meet in 2019. Prior to his time at Fairfield, O’Nalty coached for Williams College and Wesleyan University. During his tenure at both institutions, he was honored multiple times as the Men’s Diving Coach of the Year, mentoring several NCAA Division III National Qualifiers, university record-holding athletes and top-eight finishers at the NESCAC Men’s and Women’s Championships.  In addition to his success at the collegiate level, O'Nalty has coached numerous high school athletes at Xavier, Mercy and Middletown. He was also the Head Coach and founder of the Elite Diving club team where he developed multiple Connecticut State Open qualifiers, who were later recruited to an array of college-level programs.   The 2008 Marist College graduate compiled a sensational senior season off the diving board, earning the Men’s Diver of the Meet award at the ECAC Division I Championship. Additionally, O’Nalty continued his success at the NCAA Division I Zone A qualifying meet where he placed 10th out of 31 on 1-meter and 16th in the 3-meter. At the conclusion of the 2007-08 year, he earned Team MVP accolades and collected the Coaches’ Award. O'Nalty also was a positive influence outside of the pool, garnering the James E. Pizzani award for demonstrating outstanding community service, work ethic and leadership qualities. Beyond the pool deck, O’Nalty serves as Vice President of Inclusion & Diversity at American Eagle Financial Credit Union. He holds a Bachelor’s in Communication with a minor in Psychology from MAAC rival Marist College, along with Master’s degrees in Management and Organizational Leadership from Albertus Magnus College and Human Resource Management from the University of Connecticut.