Current Club: Nashville SC
College: Denver
High School: Chaminade
Club: Scott Gallagher
Height: 6′ 5″
Weight: 185 lbs.
Birth Date: 08-10-1988
Birthplace: St. Louis, MO
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PRO explains why the hand ball by StL native Joe Willis in Nashville did not warrant a red card #MLS https://t.co/uMHjxif3DS
— Dave Lange (@soccermadeinstl) March 1, 2020
Acquired from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Zarek Valentin on November 19, 2019.
Via Dynamo Theory – Making Sense of the Joe Willis trade by Houston
With DaMarcus Beasley now retired, there is room for depth or competition at the left back position which is where the trade target of Zarek Valentin primarily plays.
2019 February Goalkeeper correspondent Bill Reno has Joe at #8 in the 2018 MLS GK Rankings
2019
Started 27 games with a 10-13-4 record
Made 88 saves and posted three clean sheets
Proud to have made my 100th regular season @MLS appearance! Disappointing result but we move on to the next one. #ForeverOrange https://t.co/GV7pAYJqzJ
— Joe Willis (@JoeWillis23) June 25, 2019
2018
Started 26 games with a 9-11-6 record
Made 82 saves and posted four clean sheets
Helped guide Houston to its US Open Cup title in history, keeping a clean sheet in the final en route to a 3-0 win over Philadelphia
Named to the Team of the Week after helping the Dynamo earn a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas
2017
Started eight games with a 3-4-1 record
Made 17 saves and posted two clean sheets
Appeared in three of Houston’s post season games, making eight saves
Helped Houston reach the Western Conference Finals before falling to Seattle
2016
Made 26 appearances and started 24 games with a 5-12-9 record
Made 89 saves and posted five clean sheets, earning career-highs in both categories
Won MLS Save of the Week for his stop against San Jose on August 19
2015
Started three games with a 1-1-1 record in his first season in Houston
Made five saves serving as Tyler Deric’s backup
Acquired by Houston via trade from D.C. United on Dec. 8, 2014
2014: Did not make an MLS appearance while serving as Bill Hamid’s backup at D.C. United
2013: In his third season with D.C. United, Willis started all nine games he appeared in and finished the regular season with 28 saves in 810 minutes with a goal against average of 2.22. Willis registered one shutout on 7/7 in a tie against the Colorado Rapids, and he recorded his first regular season win of the season on 8/3 in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Impact. Willis led the Black-and-Red to the finals of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open cup finals with four consecutive victories in the tournament. On 5/28, he saved two penalties against the Richmond Kickers as the team advances in penalty kicks and then anchored the team in consecutive 3-1 victories over the Philadelphia Union on 6/12 and the New England Revolution on 6/26 to advance to the semifinals. On 8/7, he earned his third straight U.S. Open Cup victory with a 2-0 defeat of the Chicago Fire.
2012: Willis made appearances in 11 games in his second season with United, starting 10 of them. Willis made 31 saves – a career high – in 972 minutes in the 2012 season. Willis registered 2 shutouts for the Black-and-Red, both in 0-0 ties to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on 3/24 and Seattle Sounders FC on 4/7. In Leg 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Willis enter the game to save a re-taken penalty kick en route to a 1-0 series-clinching win against the New York Red Bulls.
2011: Willis made his MLS debut on 8/13 in the 4-0 win against expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The University of Denver graduate had a memorable first outing for the Black-and-Red, recording six saves and earning his first career win and shutout. Willis played three matches (three starts) for United, registering one shutout and 12 saves in 270 minutes of action during the 2011 MLS season.
Willis was selected by D.C. United with the 50th pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.[3] He signed a contract with the team on 16 March 2011.[4]
| Career Statistics | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Club | GP | GS | MIN | W | L | T | |
| 2014 | D.C. United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | D.C. United | 9 | 9 | 810 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2012 | D.C. United | 11 | 10 | 972 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2011 | D.C. United | 3 | 3 | 270 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Career | Totals | 23 | 22 | 2052 | 6 | 13 | 4 |
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
2010: Joe Willis started 12 games for the University of Denver Pioneers his senior season, recording four shutouts. To cap off his season, Willis was named All-MPSF.
2009: Willis led the Pioneers by playing in 19 games and recording four shutouts. He was named MPSF Player of the Week for the week of September 28, as well as being named to the Big West Challenge All-Tournament Team and the All-MPSF First Team.
2008: Willis started 15 games and was named team MVP, as well as being named to the All-MPSF First Team and the NSCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Far West All-Region Third Team.
2007: Willis redshirted the 2007 campaign.
2006: Willis started five games and compiled a 3-1-1 record with three shutouts
YOUTH EXPERIENCE
Willis played High School soccer for Chaminade. He played club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher, where he led his team to three consecutive state championships between 2004 and 2006. He also played in the USL Premier Development League with the Real Colorado Foxes.
