The 2021 season will mark Chris Brown's second year as an assistant coach with the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer program. Brown, who previously served as a volunteer assistant with the Ramblers in 2018, returned to Rogers Park after spending the 2019 campaign at Milwaukee as an assistant coach.
“We are fortunate to be able to bring Chris back to Loyola,” Loyola head women's soccer coach Barry Bimbi said. “He has a familiarity and connection with most of our current players from his time here. Chris is an incredibly motivated recruiter that will identify and attract top student-athletes to Loyola to help us continue to build on our recent successes. As a coach, Chris has a keen eye to make tactical adjustments during a game, and design training sessions to challenge players in a competitive environment.”
In his first season back with the Maroon & Gold, Brown helped guide Loyola through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic, as the Ramblers finished 8-2-1 overall (6-1-1- MVC) en route to a third consecutive sweep of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles. Six Ramblers earned All-MVC honors, led by MVC Player of the Year Megan Nemec, MVC Defensive Player of the Year Abby Swanson, and a MVC Freshman of the Year Alaina Abel. Swanson, who netted the first NCAA Tournament goal in Rambler annals in Loyola's clash with Denver, went on to become the first player in program history to be tabbed a United Soccer Coaches All-American, taking home Second Team accolades.
During his one season at Milwaukee, Brown helped guide the Panthers to a 17-2-1 overall record. Milwaukee finished 8-0-1 in Horizon League play en route to collecting its fifth straight regular season title. The Panthers blanked UIC, 2-0, in the final of the Horizon League Women’s Soccer Championship to book their second straight NCAA Tournament berth, where they fell to No. 10 Wisconsin by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.
Brown was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2018, a season that saw Loyola finish 11-7-1 (6-1-0 MVC) en route to winning its first MVC regular season and tournament titles in program history. He aided in the development of six All-Valley selections, a group highlighted by MVC Player of the Year Jenna Szczesny, Co-Defensive Player of the Year Madison Laudeman, and Freshman of the Year Abby Swanson. While at Loyola, Brown also was the Girls Director of Coaching for Team Chicago Soccer Club.
“I want to thank Coach Bimbi for the opportunity to come back to Loyola and be part of this special place,” Brown commented. “After being here in 2018 and working with the staff and this great group of young women, I knew that Loyola was a destination spot for my family and I. I can’t wait to get to work in Rogers Park with the team.”
Prior to his time with Team Chicago SC, Brown served for two seasons as the head women's soccer coach at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Ill. He led the Cougars to a 10-win campaign in 2016 and oversaw in the development of nine All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference selections.
Brown has also served as an assistant at Dominican University (2011), Oregon State (2010) and Northern Illinois (2007, 2008-09).
Brown began his playing career at Chandler Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Ariz. before transferring to Northern Illinois in 2004. He helped lead the Huskies to a 12-6-0 overall mark and second-place finish in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during his first season in DeKalb, Ill., their top league finish since 1990. In 2005, Northern Illinois used a seven-match unbeaten run to finish 11-6-2.
Brown earned his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois in 2007 before receiving his Master's in Sports Management in 2011. He holds a National "A" License from the United States Soccer Federation as well as Regional and State Goalkeeping Diplomas from the United Soccer Coaches.
Brown and his wife, Caitlin, are proud parents of two sons, Brody and Beckett, and a daughter, Blakely.
