After spending two seasons in Washington, D.C., former Towson University women’s soccer coach Win Puffer has rejoined the Tiger staff. Head coach Greg Paynter made the announcement on March 16.
“We are excited to bring Win back to Towson. His positive impact on our program is still felt with our rising seniors, whom he recruited,” said Paynter of Puffer’s return to the program. “His rapport with local club coaches and contacts throughout our geographic footprint will bring instant credibility to his recruiting efforts. His skill set and personality are a great balance to complete our staff.”
Previously, Puffer spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons working with the Tigers. Most recently, he was an assistant coach at Georgetown University for the 2014-15 seasons.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to rejoin the Tiger family and to offer my assistance to the women’s soccer program,” said Puffer. “Coach Paynter and his staff have done a great job over the last three years both on and off the field. Greg has been a great mentor and friend to me over the years and I look forward to working with him again. I am extremely impressed with the continued improvements to the facilities and the support to the athletics programs at Towson University. I cannot wait to get back on the field with the extraordinary young women in the soccer program.”
While working with the Hoyas, Puffer helped lead the program to a 22-10-10 mark in a two-year stretch. Georgetown qualified for the NCAA Tournament in both 2014 and 2015, reaching the BIG EAST Championship game in 2014 and the semifinals in 2015. The Hoyas finished the 2014 season ranked 24th in the NSCAA final national polls.
During his time in Georgetown, Puffer saw Daphne and Rachel Corboz earned NSCAA All-America honors, while Emma Newins was an NSCAA Academic All-American. Puffer helped to coach two BIG EAST Offensive Players of the Year, one BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and 11 All-BIG EAST selections.
From 2012-14, Puffer was an assistant coach for the Tigers of Towson University. He helped the team add seven wins from his first season with the program to his second, more than doubling the team’s goal total in the process. In 2013, Towson was the recipient of the NCAA Public Recognition Award. The program saw 22 players named to the 2013 Academic Honor Roll while the team held a 3.313 grade point average.
Puffer helped Towson earn five All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors, the most in program history at the time. Forward Emily Banes was a two-time Second Team All-Region selection in addition to a pair of CAA Player of the Week honors.
Beginning early in his coaching career, Puffer served as a youth club soccer coach in the Maryland and Virginia areas, and continues to work with those organizations. He worked closely with the high school-aged Elite Clubs National League team, Maryland United FC. During his time working with the Freestate Shooters, he coached four players who eventually played in the professional ranks, including one member of the US Women’s National Team.
Puffer spent several years with the Washington Freedom system, working as the Freedom Futures head coach as well as the director of soccer club. Puffer helped coach the U20 team to a national championship in 2006, his first year with the program. The Freedom Futures were the League Championship runners-up during the 2009 campaign after finishing second overall in the 2009 W-League regular season. From 2008-10, the youth club was ranked first in North America by the United Soccer Leagues and was highlighted in a special on the Fox Soccer Channel.
A New Hampshire native, Puffer began his collegiate coaching career at nearby Stevenson University, then known as Villa Julie College before becoming Stevenson in 2008. Puffer was an assistant women’s soccer coach for the NCAA Division III program from 2007-11, working closely with the staff in daily training and game strategy. In 2010, the Mustangs reached the NCAA Division III Tournament while reigning as co-champions of the Capital Athletic Conference in 2009. During his tenure in Owings Mills, Puffer helped guide the program to a 46-28-7 overall record in those four seasons.
From 1999-2010, Puffer worked closely with the Maryland and New Hampshire Olympic Development Program as a state coach. He helped identify, evaluate and train players selected for the Olympic Development Program. From 2002-05, Puffer coached the U13 boys’ team before beginning with the U13, U14 and U17 age groups on the girls’ side. He took players on three European tours, playing in Italy, Scotland, Denmark and Sweden.
