11th season
Career record: 89-74-12
Following a spectacular career as a River Hawk, Christian Figueroa enters his 11th full season as head coach of the UMass Lowell men's soccer program, after going 2-1-1 as an interim head coach in 2010. The 2007 graduate sits in second among coaches in the program's history after 10 seasons at the helm and his 89-74-12 record.
The River Hawks have reached the America East Championship in each of the last two seasons, making the title game in 2017 and reaching the semifinals in 2018. Figueroa has coached his squad to a 21-17-5 mark in AE play, including a 14-6-1 record since the 2016 campaign.
After capturing the program's first America East Regular-Season title in 2016 behind a 13-1-2 record, the Figueroa and his staff was named the 2016 America East and NSCAA East Coaching Staffs of the Year, and Figueroa added the ECAC Coach of the Year award.
The North Andover, Mass. native has coached an America East All-Conference Striker, Goalkeeper, Midfielder, a pair of Defenders and two America East Rookies of the Year. He has seen eight individuals named to the First Team, eight Second Team members, 13 All-Rookie Team players and has had six players named to the All-Academic Team. In addition, he has had 13 players named to ECAC and NSCAA All-East First, Second and Third Teams and an ECAC Rookie of the Year since UMass Lowell joined Division I. He has also watched Ivan Blaskic earn an Academic All-America, in addition to earning the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.
Under Figueroa's watch one of the most accomplished players in program history, Wuilito Fernandes, was named a 2016 MAC Hermann Semifinalist, NSCAA First-Team All American and became the first River Hawk drafted in the MLS SuperDraft. Figueroa has also seen Jakov Basic sign with HNK Hajduk Split in the Croatian First Football League, Franky Martinez selected by Sporting KC in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and Roko Prsa sign with NK Aluminij, a First Division club in Slovenia.
Fresh off a 3-11-2 finish in 2010, over which he coached the last four matches, Figueroa spearheaded a spectacular turnaround leading the River Hawks to an 11-7-0 record in 2011 - 9-4-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference (tied for third place) - and an appearance in the NE-10 Tournament semifinal.
For his efforts, Figueroa was voted the NE-10 Coach of the Year while eight UMass Lowell players were cited to the NE-10 second, third and All-Rookie teams, including Rookie of the Year Homero Morais.
Figueroa spent four seasons with previous head coaches Bryan Scales and Ted Priestly following an honor-filled career from 2003-06.
One of the programs best-ever midfielders, he helped the River Hawks to a 47-17-14 record (.603), two NCAA Tournaments - including the quarterfinal round in 2003 - and two Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championships. Along the way, Figueroa was the 2003 NE-10 Freshman of the Year and went on to earn all-conference honors and NSCAA All-Northeast Region status three times, culminating with first team honors in 2005 and 2006.
A two-year captain, Figueroa was one of 25 Division I, II and III players invited to tryout for the New England Revolution in February of 2007.
Outside of UMass Lowell's season, Figueroa is an active coach in the club circuit. Alongside former UMass Lowell assistant Marc Connolly, Figueroa helped lead the FC Stars boys team to back-to-back Massachusetts State Cup championships and Region 1 championship games in 2010 and 2011 in the U-17 and U-18 age groups.
A graduate of North Andover H.S., Figueroa was a Cape Ann League all-star as well as an MIAA All-State and All-Eastern Mass standout. A three-year starter, he led the Scarlet Knights to the Cape Ann League championship in 2000 and 2001 and the MIAA Division II North final in 2000.
Figueroa currently resides in Dracut, Mass. with his wife, Brenda, and daughter, Brielle.
