Athletics > Women's Soccer > Coach
Wheaton Ranked 25th in NSCAA National Poll
Meet the Coach
Luis Reis
Head Coach
Head coach Luis Reis begins his 13th season with the Wheaton women's soccer program, and he currently owns one of the best winning percentages among active NCAA Division III coaches in the country at .851 (234-37-10). Recently inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame, Reis was honored as one of eight members of the 31st class.
Under Reis, the Lyons have qualified for 12 straight postseason appearances, including reaching the NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time in program history in 2004. Wheaton also posted NCAA Tournament national quarterfinal finishes in 2002 and 2003 and nine consecutive NCAA bids from 2000-08. Capturing three straight regional championships from 2002-04, the Lyons also won an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament title in 1999 and New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament championships from 2000-04 and 2006-07.
Following his team's success in 2004, Reis was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) New England Coach of the Year and NEWMAC Coach of the Year. During his career, Reis has been recognized by the NSCAA and the NEWMAC three times each, and he has also garnered New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) Coach-of-the-Year accolades four times.
A scout for the Portuguese women's national team and a Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) state staff instructor since 1994, Reis was the 2005 head coach of the Massachusetts Premier Soccer (MPS) Boston Renegades, who feature current and former NCAA Division I players and top international talent. The Renegades were the top seed from their division and conference semifinalists under Reis. He also coached the 1996 F.C. Greater Boston Bolts U20 women's soccer club to the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) national finals and the 2000 Spirit of Massachusetts U15 girls' team to a State Cup title.
In 1998, Reis became an NSCAA premier licensed coach and was named a USYSA Region 1 Olympic Development Program (ODP) staff coach, a position he still holds today. That same year, he started a summer day camp for boys and girls, Soccer's Future Academy, which is in its 12th year and attracts over 500 kids annually. Reis also earned a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) national "A" license in 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2009, and an NSCAA advanced national diploma in 1996.
Reis, who was the head coach of the Massachusetts U17 Olympic Development team in 1998 and 1999, came to Wheaton after leading the Bridgewater State College men's soccer program from 1992-96.
Formerly a professional soccer player with the Boston Storm of the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL) in 1995, Reis earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and physical education from California State University at East Bay, formerly known as California State University at Hayward, in 1991. In his junior season, the center midfielder helped lead his 1989 team to the NCAA Division II Tournament Final Four. He was named captain in 1990.
Born in Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal, Reis attended Taunton High School, where he held the all-time scoring record (42 goals in three varsity seasons) for 11 years. Reis and his wife, Paula, reside in Franklin with son Samuel and twins Daniel and Natalie.
The Reis File
| Year | Overall | League | Highlight(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 13-5-2 | 4-2-1 | ECAC Tournament, NEW 8 Champs |
| 1998 | 13-7-0 | 6-2-0 | ECAC Tournament |
| 1999 | 23-2-0 | 8-0-0 | ECAC Champs |
| 2000 | 20-3-0 | 8-1-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2001 | 20-1-0 | 9-0-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2002 | 22-2-0 | 9-0-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2003 | 23-2-0 | 9-0-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2004 | 23-1-2 | 8-0-1 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2005 | 18-5-2 | 8-0-1 | NCAA Tournament |
| 2006 | 21-2-1 | 9-0-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2007 | 22-1-1 | 9-0-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2008 | 16-6-2 | 7-1-1 | NCAA Tournament |
| Totals | 234-37-10 | 94-6-4 | 12 Seasons |
Brad Knighton
Assistant Coach
Brad Knighton joins the women's soccer staff this season while also serving as a reserve goalkeeper for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS). He previously played professionally with the Indiana Invaders of the United Soccer Leagues' (USL) Premier Development League in 2006.
Knighton was a four-year starter at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and holds the program's career records in goals against average (1.08) and shutouts (24), and stands fourth in saves (296). In four years, from 2003-06, he started all but five of his team's games, going 41-25-9 with a .781 save percentage in nearly 7,000 minutes.
As a senior, Knighton set the school record by posting a 0.83 GAA. He was twice honored as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Atlantic selection and was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Conference on two occasions. Knighton also served on UNC Wilmington's student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC).
A native of Hickory, North Carolina, Knighton is working toward a degree from UNC Wilmington in exercise science.
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 11/7/09.
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NEWMAC Tournament
7-Nov MIT 1, Wheaton 0
31-Oct Wheaton 2, Babson 1
Regular Season
29-Oct Wheaton 1, Salem State 0
