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.