Wally Crittenden

Assistant coach Wally Crittenden returns to the Nebraska soccer staff as its goalkeeping/defensive coach for a fourth season in 2010, as he continues to support his fellow coaches with his trademark exuberance and creativity.

Crittenden has been an active voice for the NU soccer program from the moment he arrived on campus. In just a few short months, he launched the Nebraska Soccer Booster Club, an organization that gives fans new and exciting opportunities to support the Huskers. The booster club not only provides fans with special features and bonus materials about the Nebraska program, but also creates greater fan interaction with the team through events such as pregame tailgates and the preseason Meet-N-Beat the Huskers event.

Crittenden came to Lincoln after working with the Oklahoma women’s program in 2005 and 2006, helping the Sooners to 14 shutouts over his last two seasons. Prior to his time at OU, Crittenden was extremely active at various levels of soccer, including high school, Olympic Development and NCAA Division II. At Nebraska, he has directed NU goalkeepers to 12 shutouts in three seasons. 

Crittenden began his career on the men’s goalkeeping staff for the Region III Olympic Development team beginning in 1999, and has since added coaching credentials as a men’s assistant at NCAA Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., head coach of the women’s team at Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena, Texas, and as a staff member for the South Texas Olympic Development men’s team.

Crittenden was born in Jackson, Miss., and grew up in Houston, Texas. He went on to a successful collegiate career at Florida International (1998-2002) as he lettered all four years as a goalkeeper for the Panthers, while earning his bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in sport management in 2003.

During his playing career, Crittenden also earned accolades as an ODP U-18 All-American and a member of the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team. Crittenden has also competed professionally in trials with Major League Soccer’s Miami Fusion and DC United.

Crittenden is certified by the U.S. Soccer Federation with his "A" license and has also obtained his National Goalkeeping Certification through the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America).

He is joined in Lincoln by his wife, Cori, and their daughter, Kellen.