RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque announced on Wednesday the hiring of Nataki Stewart, who spent the last three seasons as head coach at the University of St. Thomas, in Houston, as the third head coach in program history.
 
Stewart accumulated a 20-15-12 record in his tenure at St. Thomas while developing 20 all-conference honorees. Stewart guided the program to a 10-3-4 record in 2025, which was the program's first 10-win season since 2018. 
 
Stewart guided his team to record a program record nine shutouts and 12 all-conference selections in 2025.
 
Overall, Stewart boasts a career head coaching record of 94-42-19.
 
"We are excited to welcome Coach Stewart and his family to UTRGV," Conque said. "During the process, Nataki not only demonstrated a sincere passion for young people, the game of soccer and winning, but is genuinely excited about the potential of our program and calling the Rio Grande Valley home. Coach Stewart brings great energy and a plan to help elevate UTRGV Soccer to compete at a high level in the Southland Conference. His strong Texas ties combined with his success as a head coach will serve our program well for years to come. I also want to congratulate and thank Sr. Associate AD James Martinez for his excellent work throughout this search – great days are ahead for UTRGV women's soccer!"
 
Prior to his tenure at St. Thomas, Stewart was the head men's and women's soccer coach at Angelina College from 2020-22. On the men's side, Stewart put together a 29-7-2 overall record, including a 22-5-1 record in the NJCAA Region XIV, and led the program to the NJCAA National Tournament in 2022, finishing the season ranked No. 10 in the nation. He developed seven NJCAA All-Region, three NJCAA All-American, and four United Soccer Coaches Academic All-American honorees.
 
On the women's side, Stewart posted a 26-8-1 record while going 22-6 in the Region XIV and helped his team finish ranked 12^th in the nation in 2022. He developed nine NJCAA All-Region honorees, including a league leading seven in 2022, two NJCAA All-Americans, and six United Soccer Coaches Academic All-Americans.
 
"I am honored and excited to join the UTRGV community as the next women's soccer head coach," Stewart said. "I want to thank Chasse Conque, Molly Castner, James Martinez, and the entire search committee for their trust, their belief in our vision, and the genuine warmth they showed my family and me throughout the process. The Valley's pride, passion, and sense of community are truly inspiring. This is a program with a strong foundation and tremendous potential, and I am committed to building something special while creating an empowering environment where our student-athletes can thrive on and off the field. Our women's soccer program is ready for its next chapter, and I'm very proud to lead this team forward."
 
Before his time at Angelina College, Stewart spent two seasons as the head women's soccer coach at Murray State College in Oklahoma. Stewart had a nine-win improvement from his first season, going 14-4-1 record in 2019 while also posting a 9-4-1 record in NJCAA Region II. During his tenure at Murray State, Stewart guided seven United Soccer Coaches Academic All-American and four all-region honorees. 
 
Stewart also has experience as an assistant coach in the Southland Conference (SLC), having spent two seasons at Stephen F. Austin, where he helped the program to an overall record of 25-13-1 and a 17-5 record in conference play. Stewart helped the team reach the SLC Tournament finals in back-to-back seasons and saw three players sign professional contracts. 
 
Stewart started his coaching career at St. Thomas, where he was part of the very first women's soccer coaching staff and helped the program to a 19-11-5 overall record and a 10-4-3 record in the Red River Athletic Conference in two seasons. Stewart's team won the conference tournament championship in 2015. 
 
Stewart played four seasons collegiately, spending his first two seasons at San Jacinto College before playing two seasons at St. Thomas, where he was an NAIA scholar athlete and helped the program to its first-ever national tournament appearance in 2013. 
 
Stewart, a native of Westmoreland, Jamaica, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in 2014 and a Master of Business Administration in Finance in 2016, both from St. Thomas.
 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT NATAKI STEWART
 
Nik Barjakatarevic, University of St. Thomas (TX) Assistant Athletic Director
UTRGV is getting an outstanding leader in Coach Stewart. He is someone whose passion, energy, and relentless work ethic will make an immediate impact in the Valley and the Southland Conference. This is a bittersweet moment for us at St. Thomas, as we are incredibly proud of him yet sad to lose an alum who has meant so much to our program and campus community. From helping us launch women's soccer at UST to growing through his Division I and head-coaching roles, every step has prepared him for this opportunity. He builds organized, hard-working teams that reflect his character, and I have no doubt he will elevate UTRGV into a national contender.
 
Wally Crittenden, Louisiana Tech Senior Associate Athletic Director & Chief Revenue Officer
This is an exciting moment for Vaqueros soccer and for soccer throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Nataki and his family bring a values driven approach that will inspire student-athletes, staff, and the community. His process has built winning programs everywhere he has been and I am confident UTRGV will be no different.
 
Brian Lee, Rice Women's Soccer Head Coach
What an impressive hire by UTRGV. Taki is one of the top young coaches in our sport and has won at every stop along his journey. He is hard working, intelligent, caring and the type of coach every parent would want their child to play for. This is a home run hire!                                                 

Derek Pittman, UTSA Women's Soccer Head Coach
Nataki Stewart is a tremendous hire for UTRGV. His leadership, dedication to developing high character athletes, and his enthusiasm for the Valley will build on the strong history of the program and set a strong foundation for long-term success.
 
Ben Williams, University of Houston Women's Soccer Head Coach
This is an outstanding hire by UTRGV. Taki has a proven track record of developing players and building strong, winning cultures and programs very quickly. He's an excellent recruiter and brings valuable relationships not only within the Texas market, but also internationally, which will pay immediate dividends. There's no doubt UTRGV will be competing for conference championships soon.

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