Northwest Notes Dec. 13, 2025
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 5 days, 23 hours AGO
Montana women's soccer coach takes over WSU program
Chris Citowicki was named Washington State head women's soccer coach, WSU interim athletic director Jon Haarlow announced Friday.
Citowicki becomes the eighth head coach in program history after spending the last eight seasons as the head coach at Montana. In 2025, the Griz swept the Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament championships, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time under Citowicki.
"He brings an infectious passion and energy that will resonate throughout our program," Haarlow said. "I have no doubt Chris will continue to elevate Cougar Soccer for many years to come.”
Haarlow replaces Todd Shulenberger, who went 113-67-34 in 11 seasons before recently moving on to become head coach at Mississippi. Shulenberger led the Cougars to the NCAA tournament five times, including a College Cup (final four) appearance in 2019.
“I have been a fan of the Washington State program for a long time,” said Citowicki. “To have the opportunity to step into that setting and represent WSU and Coug nation is a huge honor. The family and I cannot wait to move to Pullman and get started.”
Citowicki arrived in Montana in May 2018 and led the Griz to nine Big Sky Championships, including three-consecutive regular-season titles and capped with the 2025 Big Sky Tournament championship. The 2023 Big Sky Coach of the Year, Citowicki finished at Montana with a 79-39-32 record and four NCAA postseason appearances.
WSU last made the NCAA tournament in 2021. Last year, the Cougars finished seventh in the West Coast Conference, 7-7-5 overall.
Washington State will be in the renewed Pac-12 Conference in 2026.
Prior to arriving at Montana, Citowicki spent the 2017 season as the associate head coach at North Dakota.
Citowicki served as the head coach at Division-III St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn., for six seasons from 2011 to 2016.
Citowicki was a graduate assistant at Division II Bemidji State for the 2006 and ’07 seasons, then coached at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minn. He was an assistant coach at Division-III Augsburg in 2010 before being hired by St. Catherine.
He spent eight years working in the Minnesota Olympic Development Program and coached five years for the Minnesota Thunder Academy, an ECNL club.