Alma Mater: Columbia University ‘07
Seasons as Head Coach: 4 (including 2026-27 season)
Record at NYU: 35-12-12 (.694)
NCAA Postseason Appearances: 3 (2023, 2024, 2025)
NCAA Sweet 16 Appearances: 2 (2023, 2024)
Scott Waddell, who formerly served as an assistant coach of the New York University women’s soccer program, was named head coach in July 2023. His teams have produced a 35-12-12 record since returning to NYU, and the Violets have made NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his three seasons.
In 2025, NYU earned another NCAA Tournament appearance, posting a 9-6-4 overall record under Waddell’s leadership. The Violets only suffered one loss in their first 11 matches (8-1-2), and the season ended with a tie (though a PK defeat) to host Wesleyan University in the first round of the NCAA’s.
Many of Waddell’s players earned recognition for their achievements both on and off the pitch. Elizabeth Argenziano, Marlee Scanlon and Eileen Xu received NCAA All-Region IV honors, Xu (First Team), Scanlon (Second Team) and Rena Kalargiros (Honorable Mention) were All-UAA (University Athletic Association) selections, and Xu added United Soccer Coaches (USC) Second Team All-Region honors.
A total of 13 players earned UAA All-Academic accolades, five were selected College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District and Xu was named USC Third Team Scholar All-American.
In 2024, Waddell led the Violets to a 12-3-6 record, 2-2-3 in the UAA, and to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The team began the season on a 13-match unbeaten streak (9 wins, 4 ties) and wound up posting two victories in the NCAA Tournament before falling 2-1 to Johns Hopkins University.
Many milestones were achieved in 2024, as Kelli Keady concluded her career as the program’s career leader in goals (32) and goals per game (0.46). Among her many honors, Keady was named Third Team All-American and First Team All-Region IV by the USC, as well as First Team All-UAA. Bryce Chan, Riley Felsher, Rachel Kim, and Xu were also tabbed All-Region IV, while Chan and Xu added First Team All-UAA, as well.
The accolades did not stop on the pitch as the Violets earned the USC Team Academic Award, 19 players earned UAA All-Academic honors, while Felsher, Kalargiros, Keady, Kim, and Hope Neale were selected CSC Academic All-District.
Waddell’s inaugural season as NYU’s head coach in 2023 was marked with the program’s first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 2018. The Violets defeated two teams before falling to the University of Rochester in the Sweet Sixteen.
The Violets began the ‘23 season by winning its first seven matches and out-scoring opponents 40-1. The squad finished with an overall 14-3-2 record (3-2-2 in the UAA) and were ranked #10 in the final USC Poll.
Waddell and his assistants Nikki Driesse and Carmen Proffitt were named the USC’s Region IV Staff of the Year, while Gabriella Funk earned USC First Team All-America recognition and Keady garnered USC Second Team All-America honors. Both Funk and Keady also earned spots on the USC All-Region IV First Team, while Dominique Bevacqua and Xu were named to the All-Region Second Team and Makenzie Rodrigues to the Third Team. At the conference level, Funk and Keady earned First Team All-UAA honors, while Bevacque and Xu garnered Second Team recognition. Riley Mullady and Neale earned All-UAA Honorable Mention.
The 2023 Violets set 14 program records while achieving the second-most wins in program history. Over the season and as a team, the Violets set records in points (191 – 71 goals, 49 assists), points per game (10.1), goals (71), goals per game (3.74), assists (49), assists per game (2.58), shots attempted (393), and shots per game (20.7). As an individual, Funk garnered three career program records: points (82), points per game (1.17), assists (24), and two season scoring records (35 points, 11 assists). Keady’s 14 goals were also a season record.
In addition to accomplishments on the field, Waddell’s student-athletes excelled in the classroom with 22 members receiving UAA All-Academic honors, six earning CSC All-Academic recognition and Keady being named USC Scholar All-American. In addition, Yukino Wakatsuki, Chloe Hudson, Isa Badillo, and Izze Ching were all named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars.
Waddell brought a wealth of coaching experience to his new position, re-joining NYU after serving as an assistant coach with the Violets (2016-20) and as the associate head coach (2023) at Brandeis University. While at Brandeis, the Judges achieved its best conference finish since 2010, placing third with a 4-3 record in the ultra-competitive UAA.
Serving as an assistant coach at NYU from 2016-20, Waddell helped the program achieve its highest-ever USC national ranking at the time at #15 in 2019 and a second-place finish in the UAA with a 5-1-1 record in 2018, its best conference showing since 2002.
Waddell returned to NYU with NCAA Division I, Division III, and international coaching and playing experience. A 2007 Columbia University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, he played four seasons as a midfielder/forward with the Lions' soccer team and served as a captain.
Waddell also played professionally for Pulau Penang FC (2008) and Real Mona FC (2009).
In addition to his NYU and UAA experience, Waddell also served as an assistant coach at Mount St. Mary's University (2022), as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at New Jersey Institute of Technology (2014-16), and assistant coach at Columbia (2010-14).
A member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Waddell is a native of Kingston, Jamaica, and resides in New York City.
Waddell’s Year-By-Year Records (as NYU’s Head Coach)
Overall UAA
2023 14-3-2 3-3-2 (UAA)
2024 12-3-6 2-2-3 (UAA)
2025 9-6-4 1-5-1 (UAA)
TOTALS 35-12-12 6-10-6 (UAA)
(.694) (.409)
