Wingate University Athletics

Chip Wiggins enters his sixth season as the head women’s soccer coach in 2018. He has guided the Bulldogs to a pair of SAC Tournament titles in his first five years, while leading Wingate to the SAC Tournament title match every year of his career. Wiggins has helped the Bulldogs earn NCAA Tournament bids in three of his five seasons at Wingate. Wiggins is 67-19-11 overall in his four seasons at Wingate, compiling a 41-9-4 record in SAC play.

Wingate went 11-4 in 2017, with an 8-2 mark in league play, finishing in second place in the league standings. The Bulldogs downed Catawba and Anderson to advance to the SAC Tournament championship match for the eighth consecutive year. Six Bulldogs earned all-conference recognition, with three second team selections and three players earning honorable mention accolades. In addition, Kimmi Moore and Taylor Leyble earned All-Region honors.  

Wingate went 12-6-1 in 2016, led by All-SAC and All-Region honorees Kaitlyn Brunworth and Macy Franklin. Both earned Academic All-District honors, while Brunworth was named the SAC Scholar-Athlete and a first team Academic All-America selection. The Bulldogs defeated Queens and Lenoir-Rhyne to advance to the SAC Tournament championship match, dropping a tough 2-1 contest against Carson-Newman. 

The Bulldogs were 15-3-2 in 2015, with an 8-1-2 mark in league play. Victories over Newberry and Queens put Wingate in the SAC title match, where the 'Dogs dropped a 1-0 decision against Carson-Newman. The Bulldogs earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2015. Brunworth was named a second team NSCAA All-American and third team Academic All-America honoree. 

The Bulldogs were 13-3-4 during the 2014 season, going 9-1-1 in SAC play. Wingate defeated Armstrong State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the regional semifinals where the 'Dogs dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 double-overtime loss against fifth-ranked Columbus State. 

In his first season as the head coach at Wingate, Wiggins guided the Bulldogs to their first NCAA regional title in program history. Wingate finished 16-3-4 overall, while winning its second SAC Tournament title in three years. The Bulldogs hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. After advancing to the Sweet 16, Wingate was chosen to host the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. The Bulldogs defeated Belmont Abbey 2-0 for their first-ever regional title, advancing to their first-ever Elite Eight. Wingate finished the season ranked eighth nationally, the highest ranking in program history. 

Wiggins was announced as the head women's soccer coach at Wingate on Feb. 14, 2013. Wiggins has 20-plus years coaching experience in college, high school and youth soccer. He served two stints as an assistant coach at Wingate. He served as assistant head coach for men’s and women’s soccer from August 1996 until May 1998. In addition, Wiggins was the men’s and women’s goalkeeper coach from February 2007 until June 2010. Wiggins played soccer at Wingate and Charleston Southern.

Prior to Wingate, Wiggins served six years as the Executive Director of Coaching for the Mecklenburg Union Futbol Club in Charlotte. His duties included overseeing all phases of a comprehensive girls’ and boys’ soccer program for over 400 players. Wiggins served as co-tournament director, fund-raising/sponsorships director and goalkeeper academy director, among his many duties. As the Club’s field maintenance coordinator, Wiggins oversees three soccer complexes in Charlotte.

Wiggins coached the Missouri Western State University women’s soccer team during its inaugural season. He recruited 24 student-athletes in less than four months. At Ottawa (Kan.) University, Wiggins was the head women’s and men’s soccer coach for three seasons. He helped the Braves win 44 women’s soccer matches during his tenure.

While at Ottawa, Wiggins led the women’s program to three Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) tournament titles and two regular season crowns. The Braves participated in the NAIA national tournament on three occasions. Wiggins was named the KCAC women’s soccer Coach of the Year twice. He recorded the most women’s soccer victories in the school’s history.

Wiggins’ college coaching resume also includes stints at the University of Maine at Presque Isle (women’s assistant head coach for two-plus seasons) and Charleston Southern University (women’s and men’s assistant head coach for two-plus seasons). Wiggins holds an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma with a Goalkeeping I and II certificate. He has earned an FA Psychology of Coaching certificate as well.

The head girls’ soccer coach at Butler High School for one season, Wiggins helped the Bulldogs win their first-ever conference championship. Butler advanced to the 4A state play-off quarterfinals. Wiggins led the Monroe High School girls’ soccer team to its first-ever play-off appearance and 15 victories during his only season with the Redhawk program.

At Lee (Maine) Academy, Wiggins served as the head girls’ soccer coach and assistant athletic director for one season. He helped Lee win 21 matches, while advancing to the state championship finals. Lee won the conference title and the Eastern Maine championship. In addition to his coaching and administrative duties, Wiggins served as a physical education instructor at Lee.

Wiggins has played for the Charleston Battery Reserves and the South Carolina Olympic Development Team. His camp coaching resume includes 17 years with the Wingate International Soccer Academy. Wiggins has four years with the Ralph Lundy Soccer Camp and two years with the Clemson Soccer Academy.

Chip Wiggins Year-by-Year Record