Coaches

Chris Koenig

The 2023 season is the 17th for Chris Koenig as the head coach of the Lewis University women’s soccer program. He is the fifth head coach in the 36-year history of the program.


Koenig has led the Flyers to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament four times (2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018, 2022) in the last 10 years. Over half of the program’s GLVC Tournament berths have occurred under Koenig’s watch.


In 2012, the Flyers put together the program’s first 10-win season and GLVC Tournament berth since 1997. Lewis’ eight GLVC wins in 2012 matched a program high. Lewis returned in 2013 with another winning record, giving the Flyers back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 19 years. The 2015 squad matched the success of the 2012 team, earning 10 overall wins and eight in conference play. Lewis’ sixth seed in the GLVC Tournament was their best since 1997.


The Flyers hosted the first round of the GLVC Tournament in 2022 after finishing in fourth in the league standings.


10 Flyers have earned 13 All-GLVC honors under Koenig. In 2015, forward Maggie Moran earned Lewis’ first All-GLVC First Team nod in 18 years. She also took home 2015 NSCAA All-Midwest Second Team accolades for her play.


In the classroom, the Flyers have earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award each season under Koenig’s helm.


Prior to arriving at Lewis, Koenig was an assistant women's soccer coach at Southern Illinois Edwardsville for four seasons. During his time as an assistant at SIUE, the Cougars posted a 51-24-3 record and were ranked as high as No. 9 in the NCAA Division II national poll. The team qualified for the GLVC Tournament each season and made an NCAA tournament appearance in 2005.


Koenig's main responsibility at SIUE was to organize and train team defense and goalkeepers. The Cougars set single-season school records in shutouts, goals-against average and fewest goals allowed under Koenig's watch.


Koenig's other responsibilities at SIUE were team training, evaluating and recruitment of women's soccer student athletes, game management, fundraising and game tape evaluation.


Prior to joining the staff at SIUE, Koenig gained head and assistant coaching experience with various youth programs and clubs in and around the St. Louis area dating back to 1999. In 2004 he served as head coach of the under 18 women's Metro United Soccer Club that secured the Super Y-league Midwest Regional Championship.


A former goalkeeper at SIUE, Koenig was a two-time academic all-conference selection and was named All-American Scholar by the United States Achievement Academy. He posted a goals-against average of 1.29 in 15 starts during his senior season. Koenig holds coaching certifications from the U.S. Soccer Federation and the Royal Dutch Soccer Federation. He also is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.


Koenig earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology and a master of science degree in education with concentration in sport and exercise behavior and exercise physiology from SIUE.


Koenig and his wife Ashly, an advertising executive and former SIUE softball player, have two children, Gabriel and Caleb.