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Palm Beach Atlantic University

West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Florida Southeast
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Chris Gnehm

PBA Highlights

Chris Gnehm was named the fifth head coach in the history of the Palm Beach Atlantic women’s soccer program on July 12, 2014.


In Gnehm's eighth season, PBA picked up wins over Westminster and Rollins. In the season opener on Aug. 25, PBA trailed 1-0 but scored two goals in the 87th and 89th minute for the comeback victory. The Sailfish also earned an SSC win over Rollins 3-2 on Oct. 22. The victory marked PBA's first win over the Tars in program history. Five members from the 'Fish received CSC Academic All-District honors.


Gnehm had the best season of his tenure during the 2021 season. The Sailfish posted a 10-5-0 record and a 7-3-0 mark in the SSC, finishing second in the conference. PBA qualified for the SSC tournament for the first time in program history, earning a first round bye. PBA's Jaycie Tate and Rachel Neumann each earned All-SSC honors with Tate also earning a spot on the D2CCA All-Region team.


Gnehm led the Sailfish to an 8-8 record in his sixth year as head coach in 2019. Under his leadership, PBA recorded a 6-2 home record at the Rinker Athletic Campus, while also defeating conference opponents Florida Southern, Lynn and Florida Tech. The 4-0 victory over Florida Tech on Oct. 30 marked the largest SSC win in program history. PBA notched five shutouts on the year, holding opponents to a mere 16 goals against in 16 competitions. PBA's Karina Williams earned the first All-SSC honors in program history.


In his fifth season at the helm head coach Chris Gnehm guided the 'Fish to their first winning season since 2013 with a 8-7-2 record, despite numerous injuries to the defensive core. The winning season included regulation wins against SSC foes Embry-Riddle, Lynn and Eckerd as well as the program's first overtime win since 2015 against Florida Southern.


In Gnehm’s third season with the Sailfish, the program recorded their first Sunshine State Conference victory with a 1-0 shutout over Palm Beach County rival Lynn University on Sep. 14. The Sailfish defense was strong during Gnehm’s third season at the helm, as they only allowed 21 goals on the season and recorded five shutouts, with three of them coming in SSC matches.


In Gnehm's second season at PBA, his team finished with a 5-9-1 record which included wins over Sunshine State Conference members Lynn University and Florida Southern College. The team played five overtime contests, finishing 1-3-1 in them. Senior Kasey Wyer was named to the NSCAA and D2CCA All-South Region teams in 2015. Coach Gnehm earned his NSCAA Premier Diploma in 2015.


The Sailfish hit some expected growing pains during Coach Gnehm's first season, winning three games in the rookie head coach's first year. PBA endured five overtime losses during the course of the season, while pulling out wins over NCAA DII opponents Eckerd and Valdosta State. Gnehm also helped with the continued development of Sailfish striker Kasey Wyer, who was named to the All-ICAA first team as well as the Daktronics All-Region second-team.


Awards & Honors

4 All-Region Honorees

5 Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards

3 All-Sunshine State Conference Honorees

9 CSC (formerly known as CoSIDA) Academic All-District Award Winners

2 USC Scholar Teams


Prior to PBA

Coach Gnehm took the reigns of the Sailfish following a two-year stint on the staff of head coach Paul Hogan at Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, S.C.


Before his time at CCU he also spent one season at the University of Colorado and nearly a decade on the women’s soccer coaching staff at Florida Atlantic University.


In his first season on staff Gnehm helped guide CCU to eight more victories than the previous season while competing as a member of the Big South Conference. The 2013 campaign saw CCU once again reach double-digit wins while qualifying for the conference tournament for a second straight season and posting a school-record of 10 shutouts along the way. Coach Gnehm’s time with the Chanticleers also saw him help oversee 10 player selections to the Big South All-Conference teams in just two seasons.


Gnehm, who has a background in goalkeeping, played a key role in directing an excellent FAU defense from 2001-11. 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 Conference, 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.


Personal

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.

Chris and his wife Tiffany (Reeves) were married in January 2014.

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Lucas Martorana

PBA Highlights


Lucas Martorana was named the head men's soccer coach in Nov. 2022 after serving as the interim head coach for the 2022 season. Martorana started with the Sailfish as an assistant in Summer of 2017. He was elevated to associate head coach before the 2020 season. He has been instrumental in on-field training sessions and recruiting for a program that has won four Sunshine State Conference titles and carries a 61-9-6 record during his tenure as an assistant.


After taking the reigns in July of 2022, the 'Fish got off to a quick start and climbed all the way to No. 2 in the nation according to the United Soccer Coaches poll. PBA was able to defeat then ranked No. 9 Saint Leo as well as two teams in Lander and Rollins who qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Sailfish finished the season with a 8-5-2 record


Honors & Awards


1 All-Sunshine State Conference Honoree


1 Sunshine State Conference Weekly Award


6 CSC Academic All-District Honorees


Prior to PBA


Martorana comes to Palm Beach Atlantic from Success Academy Soccer Program where he served as a coach and administrator providing free youth soccer programs as part of school design to underserved youth in Harlem, Bronx, and Brooklyn. In addition to his time at SA soccer program, Martorana coached four years at NCAA DII Malone University Men's Soccer and has coached youth soccer for over 12 years in Ohio, Florida, and New York.


Coach Martorana was a member of the SUNY Buffalo men's soccer team for three seasons and captained Malone University men's soccer for one season. While at Malone he earned NCCAA All Region and All Conference accolades. Martorana earned his degree in Mathematics and continued on at Malone to serve as an assistant coach of the men's soccer program for four years. During that time he also earned his master's in school counseling and guidance, coordinated after school programs, and played semi-professionally in the USL, PDL, and MISL. He has worked as an academic advisor for four years at Florida State University and currently splits his time at PBA and coaching youth at Weston Select Soccer Club.


Coach Martorana holds his NSCAA Director of Coaching, Premier, Advanced National, National, Futsal, Goalkeeper level 1 diplomas and has his USSF D License.


Martorana is a native of Warren, Ohio, his wife, Christine is a instructor at FIU and they have a 2 year old daughter, Sofia.

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Rob Tomlin

Rob Tomlin joined the Palm Beach Atlantic men's soccer coaching staff prior to the 2022 season as an assistant coach.


An Aylesbury, England native, Tomlin was a member of the 2021 Sailfish team that went 13-3 and were Sunshine State Conference regular season champions. He appeared in 16 games and made one start in the midfield. Prior to joining the Sailfish, Tomlin played at Wingate where he started 31 of 32 games he played in over two seasons.

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Pete Arnold

Pete Arnold joined the Sailfish after the 2022 championship season. The England native will serve as an assistant men's soccer coach. working primarily with the Sailfish goalkeepers.


Arnold comes to PBA after a playing career at the University of Indianapolis for one year before transferring to Coastal Carolina University where he played for a season and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Sports Management degree.


Arnold transitioned into a student coaching role with the Chanticleers as a goalie coach in 2021 and as a strength and conditioning intern. Daily responsibilities included assisting with the daily operations of the men’s soccer team, assisting the goalkeeper coach, and helping run ID camps and look after recruits when visiting campus. While in Myrtle Beach, Arnold coached Coast FA Soccer Club where he served as a youth coach.

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