FREDONIA, N.Y. – Fourth-year State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer head coach Eric Watson has been named the 2010 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Men's Soccer Coach of the Year, as announced Tuesday by the conference office.

Watson enjoyed his most successful year at the helm of the program in 2010, achieving an 8-9-1 overall record while going 4-5-0 in league matches. It marked the most wins in a season for a New Paltz men's soccer team since 2004, and the Hawks were in contention for a berth in the conference tournament until the final day of SUNYAC play. In addition, the blue and orange posted seven shutouts on the year, which is as many as the previous three seasons combined. In recognition of a fortuitous season, the conference's men's soccer head coaches voted three of his student-athletes on the 2010 All-SUNYAC teams. On his career, Watson owns an overall record of 89-63-19, which includes his tenure at Linfield College. While coaching the Wildcats, he was named the 2005 Northwest Conference Men's Soccer Coach of the Year.

Two New Paltz men's soccer coaches have combined to earn three SUNYAC Coach of the Year honors, with Stuart Robinson last gaining the distinction in 2004 before Watson was lauded for his efforts on the sideline this season.

The College at Brockport swept the conference's men's soccer awards handed out to student-athletes. Joe Marino received the 2010 Huntley Parker Award, which is symbolic of his status as SUNYAC Men's Soccer Player of the Year, while Bobby Ross was chosen as the 2010 SUNYAC Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year.