John Hawks prepares to begin his third season at Central, and second season as the head coach of the CWU Soccer Team.
Hawks joined the Wildcats staff prior to the 2024 season as an Assistant Coach under the leadership of Lindsey Lee. Following Lee’s departure at the conclusion of the season, Hawks was named as the new head coach.
In Hawks’ first season at the helm, Central showed flashes of promise while navigating the challenges of a transition year, finishing 4-7-6 overall and 2-7-5 in GNAC play. The Wildcats opened the season on a positive note with a 2-0 win over Eastern Oregon and added key nonconference victories against Cal State Monterey Bay 2-1 and Montana State Billings 3-0, while also earning results in tight matches with draws against UC Merced, Western Washington, and Saint Martin’s. Central was particularly competitive at home, posting a 3-2-3 record, highlighted by a late-season 1-0 shutout over Northwest Nazarene on Senior Night. Overall, the season laid a foundation for growth under Hawks, with competitive performances and key results pointing toward future development.
Prior to joining the crimson and black, Hawks spent five seasons with GNAC-rival Northwest Nazarene as an Assistant Coach before being promoted to the Associate Head Coach in 2022 followed by a season as the Interim Head Coach in 2023. Under Hawks supervision, NNU went 6-5-7 in 2023 and 4-5-5 in GNAC play finishing in fifth place. Four players earned All-GNAC honors led by Makayla Roggow on the First Team and Nicole Lewis as the GNAC Freshman of the Year. Roggow also earned All-Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches Association. Since Hawks joined the staff in 2019, the Nighthawks went 45-24-15 overall and 24-18-12 in GNAC play and had the 2022 GNAC Player of the Year in Ashley Parton as well as Lewis earning the 2023 GNAC Freshman of the Year.
Before joining NNU, Hawks spent three years at the University of Missouri, first as a Volunteer Assistant Coach before becoming the team's Director of Operations. As the Director of operations, Hawks helped with all facets of the day-to-day aspects of the program and spearheaded the team's travel and gameday operations.
Hawks served as an Assistant Coach for the boys and girls soccer teams at Muriel Battle High School in Columbia, Mo. and has also been a National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association sanctioned referee and served as a Missouri State High School Activities Association referee. He also refereed for the 2014 American Midwest Conference women's postseason matches and the 2015 American Midwest Conference men's postseason games.
A native of Columbia, Mo., Hawks earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Missouri in 2006.
