THROGGS NECK, NY – Maritime College Director of Athletics Mike Berkun has announced the hiring of Max Watson as Head Coach of the men's soccer team.  A 2022 recipient of the United Soccer Coaches "30 Under 30" Award, Watson has Division I head coaching experience at the Virginia Military Institute.

"We're incredibly fortunate to bring a coach of Max's caliber aboard," Berkun said.  "His experience, not just as a Division I coach, but at a school that's very similar to Maritime, makes him the perfect fit to lead our men's soccer program."

Watson was VMI's head coach for two seasons.  During the 2020 campaign (which was played in the Spring of 2021), he led the Keydets to a pair of wins, marking the first time in eight years that the team earned multiple victories.  VMI also posted its highest team GPA in seven years during the 2020-21 academic year.  He was elevated to head coach after serving as an assistant coach and the Keydets' recruiting coordinator during the 2019 season.

Prior to VMI, Watson spent three seasons (2015-17) as an assistant coach at the University of Mary Washington.  During that time, the Eagles posted a 41-15-3 overall record, won the 2017 Capital Athletic Conference championship, and played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.  Watson was an assistant to the CAC Coach of the Year in both 2016 & 2017, and he recruited the 2017 CAC Rookie of the Year.

Most recently, he worked as the Director of Player Development for the U11-U14 divisions at the Stafford Soccer Club in Stafford, VA.  In addition to coaching responsibilities, Watson managed the curriculum, provided support to the technical director, assisted with college guidance and served as a mentor.  He was also an academy scout for DC United of Major League Soccer, attending high-level club matches to identify, evaluate and recommend players for the DC United Academy teams.

In 2019, Watson led the boys' soccer program at Mountain View High School in Stafford, VA, to a 17-4-1 record and the Commonwealth District championship.  He was named both Commonwealth District Coach of the Year and VHSL Region 5D Coach of the Year that season.

"I would like to thank Mike Berkun and the rest of the search committee for entrusting me with the men's soccer program moving forward," Watson said.  "Growing up as a youth soccer player in New York City and Long Island, it's been a dream of mine to bring my coaching career back to the area and communities that have given me so much.  I look forward to continuing the Maritime men's soccer tradition and eager to begin working on our new vision."

A 2015 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, he played on the Diplomats' team that won the Centennial Conference title and reached the "Elite 8" of the NCAA Tournament in 2013.