Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA 23606

Virginia Northeast

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Coaches

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Jamie Gunderson

Jamie Gunderson was appointed the head coach of the Christopher Newport women's soccer program in the spring of 2020 after serving as an assistant coach for eight years. He became the seventh Head Coach in the program's 24-year history.

Gunderson, who has been with the Captains since the fall of 2012, previously served as an assistant coach under Dan Weiler for seven seasons before stepping into the interim head coaching position following the 2019 season. The interim tag was then removed in April.

Prior to taking the reins as the top assistant coach in 2014, Gunderson also served under head coach Ruth Keegan as a volunteer assistant coach in 2012 and started his tenure with Weiler in 2013. He has been a staple on the sidelines during the most successful stretch in program history as he helped guide the Captains to six straight regular season conference titles between 2013-18 and six NCAA Tournament berths in his time under coach Weiler. In a three-year stretch between 2016-18, the Captains set and re-set the program record for wins in a season while capturing the program's first three Capital Athletic Conference Tournament Championships.

In 2018, Gunderson was part of the coaching staff that led Christopher Newport to the NCAA Division III National Semifinals and wrapped up the season with a 21-2-0 overall record. For his efforts, he was honored as part of the United Soccer Coaches Atlantic South Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

Prior to arriving at Christopher Newport University, Gunderson was a four-year starter at Methodist University and was a USA South All-Sportsmanship Team representative for the Monarchs. He has competed professionally as a member of the Norfolk Sharx in the Major Indoor Soccer League and also played with the Lionsbridge FC. He also continued to hone his coaching prowess as a head coach with the VA Legacy soccer club in Williamsburg, Va. from 2009-19.

Christopher Newport women's soccer posted a 16-3-3 overall record and went 8-1-1 in conference play during the 2019 season. The Captains earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament and reached the second round of the postseason tournament after a 2-0 win over Worcester State in the opening round.

Gunderson holds a "C" License from the United States Soccer Federation, earning the certificate in 2018.

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Sean Killion

Assistant Coach

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Justin Chezem

A staple on the sidelines of Christopher Newport men's soccer for over a decade, Justin Chezem was named the seventh head coach in the history of the program and will take the reins starting in 2019. During his 12 seasons as an assistant coach, Chezem helped Christopher Newport post over 200 wins with eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Chezem has been directly involved with the CNU men's soccer program for 16 years as both a player and an assistant coach. He has been on staff as the Captains have grown to a national power, including becoming the first team in CNU Athletics history to garner a number one national ranking in 2009. Christopher Newport reached the NCAA Tournament eight times during his tenure, including three trips to the National Quarterfinals, and have won five conference championships.

The Captains averaged 15 wins per season while Chezem was an assistant coach. In addition to the success on the field, Chezem helped grow the team's involvement in the community through camps and clinics while working to expand the Captains' alumni base. In 2018, he spearheaded a fundraising effort on CNU Day that netted the soccer program over $30,000.

Chezem holds a USSF 'B' coaching license and the United Soccer Coaches Premier coaching license. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Chezem was a four-year player for head coach Steve Shaw from 2001-04. During that time, he helped the Captains post a combined 48-25-6 record. On an individual level, he was a first team All-Conference pick in 2003 and 2004. Additionally, he was named to the USA South All-Tournament team for his efforts in the postseason during the 2004 campaign.

Chezem graduated with a degree in Business Marketing in 2005 and has also coached locally at Warwick High School. He and his wife Elizabeth have a son, Tucker, and currently reside in Newport News.

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Shawn Trueblood

Shawn Trueblood returns to the sidelines as a member of the CNU Men's Soccer coaching staff for his sixth year in 2019. For the last two seasons, he worked with the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team and helped guide the Captains to the program's first ever NCAA Division III National Semifinals appearance in 2018. Prior to his work with the women's team, he also served as an assistant coach with the men's program for five years until the 2016 season.

He was a four-year starter on defense under head coach Steve Shaw between 2004-07, scoring five goals in his career. CNU averaged over 12 wins a season while Trueblood played, earning one trip to the NCAA Tournament, where the Captains defeated Chestnut Hill in the first round in 2006.

Trueblood has been building his coaching resume as a staff member at Lafayette HS and with the Virginia Legacy. He has served as a coach in the Legacy program since 2008, and now oversees the East End Legacy's Developmental, Advanced Development and U10-U18 Travel Teams. He also served as an assistant coach at his high school alma mater in Williamsburg for three years.

Trueblood graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2008 with a degree in Communication Studies. He and his wife Melissa have two kids, Millie and Remi, and currently reside in Williamsburg.