Chris Gnehm is entering his second year as assistant coach of the Coastal Carolina women's soccer team in 2013.
In 2013, the Chants went 10-8-2 overall giving the Chanticleers consecutive double-digit victory campaigns for the first time since 2008. The Chanticleers finished tied for fourth in the Big South, along the way ending Radford’s 19-game regular-season conference unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory on October 23. The squad also set a new CCU record with 11 shutouts in their 20 games, while allowing just 15 total goals on the season to establish a new program mark for the second year in a row. Seven Chants earned All-Big South honors, including a total of four on the first and second teams, tied for the most in the conference.
In Gnehm's first season in 2012, the Chanticleers recorded eight more victories than the previous year, went 5-0 in Big South Conference play at home, and set a school-record for fewest goals allowed with 20. Gnehm coached three All-Big South Conference selections in forward Kacey Kelley, midfielder Fia Jonsson, and defender Cami Skladany.
Gnehm came to Coastal after spending the 2011 campaign as the top assistant at Pac-12 member Colorado. Prior to his time with the Buffaloes, Gnehm spent nine successful seasons as an assistant women's soccer coach at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), a member of the Sun Belt Conference. He was the Owls' top assistant in his last three seasons and served as the goalkeeper coach from 2002-07.
Gnehm, who has a background in goalkeeping, played a key role in directing an excellent FAU defense. In 2006, the Owls led all NCAA Division I teams in shutout percentage (.762), holding opponents scoreless in 16 of 21 matches. A year later, FAU's second year in the Sun Belt, the team posted nine shutouts and allowed just 15 goals.
His collegiate coaching career started at his alma mater, Averett (Va.) University, where he was an assistant coach from 1996-98. He then became the assistant coach for the men's soccer program at Monmouth (N.J.) University from 1998-99 before heading to Ferrum (Va.) College to be the head men's soccer coach as well as a women's tennis coach from 1999-2001.
In addition to his coaching credentials, he led the Soccer Plus Goalkeeping School (Wethersfield, Conn.) during the summer of 1995. He is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Gnehm earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1997 from Averett, where he was a four-year starter at goalkeeper and team captain from 1993-96. He still holds Averett's school record for most saves in a single season and career.
Gnehm is originally from Bayville, N.J., graduating from Central Regional High School where he earned first-team all-state soccer honors as a senior in 1992. During his free time, Gnehm participated in nearly 60 commercials as an actor/model from 1979-1988. He helped promote products such as Cracker Jacks, Nike, Colleco Vision, Cheetos, Life Cereal, and Jell-O Pudding. He also appeared in print ads for Wrangler Kid, Gravy Train, and FAO Schwartz.
Chris recently became engaged to Tiffany Reeves and the couple plan a January 2014 wedding.
