The phrase “the third time’s the charm” held true for Kevin Driggs as in his third season, 2022, he led the St. Mary’s Women’s Soccer team to its first-ever NCAA Tournament and he looks to build upon that momentum for 2023.

The Rattlers went 12-5-4 in 2022 and saw both Megan Copeland and Juni Ejere receive All-Region and Lone Star All-Conference First-Team honors. The team advanced to the Lone Star Conference Tournament semifinals and eventually lost to LSC rival, West Texas A&M 2-1 in the frigid NCAA Tournament First Round. The youth of the team also shone through as both Shelby Paniagua and Sydney Varela were named to the All-Freshmen team, while sophomore goalkeeper Rebecca Difronzo and midfielder Love’ Tovar were tabbed on the All-Conference Third-Team.

THE DRIGGS FILE

  College: New Mexico Highlands, B.A. (2011), NMHU, M.A. (2016)

  Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.

  Experience: 4th Year

YEAR-BY-YEAR REVIEW

  Year

Record

Highlights

  2020

5-6-0

Lone Star Tournament Quarterfinals

  2021

9-7-2

Lone Star Tournament Quarterfinals

  2022

12-5-4

Lone Star Tournament Semifinals;

NCAA Tournament First Round

  Total

   3 Yrs.

26-18-6  

His first two seasons with the Rattlers were played in the same calendar year as Driggs was hired right before the pandemic struck and the 2020 season took place in the spring of 2021.

In his first year, the Rattlers advanced to the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the first time and to the postseason for the first time 2016. The team was 5-5 during the regular season and saw both Copeland and Cameron Koerner named to the Lone Star All-Conference team and Copeland to the All-Tournament team.

In 2021, the team was 9-7-2 and qualified for the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the second-straight season. The team had five selected to the All-Conference squad and Copeland was both an All-Region and LSC All-Tournament pick.

Driggs joined St. Mary's after five years at West Texas A&M University as an assistant coach, spending his last season as the associate head coach. During his time in Canyon, Driggs was instrumental in helping WT become one of the top programs in the Lone Star Conference and South Central Region. 

In 2018, Driggs helped guide the Lady Buffs to the program's second regional championship along with winning the Lone Star Conference Championship and a program-best 14 game unbeaten streak.

Before joining WT, Driggs found success at La Cueva HS where he led the boys’ soccer team to two New Mexico 6-A State Championships (2012 &2009) during his six years with the Bears. Before becoming the head coach, Driggs spent two years as an assistant under legendary head coach Larry Waters winning three state titles. He also served as the Girl’s Academy Director for the New Mexico Rush Soccer Club from 2008-2015.

Driggs holds an USSF “A” License and a US Soccer NY License. 

He earned his Master’s degree in counseling from New Mexico Highlands in 2016. He also earned his Bachelor’s degree from NMHU in 2011.

Driggs and his wife, Jacqueline, and their three children reside in San Antonio.