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Chris Bergmann
Chris Bergmann is in his fourth season as Stetson Women's Soccer head coach in 2022.
Bergmann, who spent the previous four seasons as the head coach at VMI, was named as women’s soccer head coach at Stetson, on Dec. 26, 2018, becoming just the fourth head coach in program history.
“Chris will be a tremendous asset to our women’s soccer program,” Deputy Athletic Director Alicia Queally said upon Bergmann's hire. “He is intelligent and meticulous in his approach to developing his teams. He sets high standards of expectations for his student-athletes. I know our current team will respond well to his style of coaching and leadership, and I look forward to seeing our program continue to grow under his direction.”
During his first season with the Hatters, Bergmann laid the foundation for future success. A big part of that potential future success could be seen through the emergence of freshman Maggie Struble, who earned a spot on the ASUN Conference All-Freshman team after leading the Hatters with 7 goals and 15 points. In early September, Struble became the first freshman in program history to record a hat trick, when she accomplished the feat in a win against Georgia Southern.
In 2018 at VMI, Bergmann guided the Keydets to a first-round win in the Southern Conference Tournament, marking the third time in his four seasons VMI won at least one conference tournament match. VMI finished the season with a 7-9-2 overall record, a mark which included a 6-0-1 start. In four seasons at the Lexington, Va., school, Bergmann won 28 games.
Bergmann’s 2017 VMI squad tied for fourth in the SoCon and set a program record for most conference victories (4). His 2016 squad won eight games total, the second-best figure in VMI history. His first VMI team, in 2015, posted six overall victories, the most for the Keydets in six seasons.
Bergmann came to VMI after six years as the head coach at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill., where he served as the men’s head coach. He coached the Foresters to consecutive conference championships in 2012 and 2013, earning Midwest Conference Coach of the Year honors each season.
After the second of those championships, he took his team to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 1981.
Bergmann coached eight NSCAA North All-Region players at Lake Forest including Mahir Mameledzija, three-time conference player of the year and the 2012-13 CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American of the Year.
Prior to his time at Lake Forest, Bergmann was an assistant coach for the women's program at Northwestern for the 2008 season, where he helped the Wildcats to a quarterfinal berth in the Big 10 Tournament.
Bergmann spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons in Deerfield, Ill., working as the head men's coach at Trinity International. There, he was responsible for all facets of the program and saw his team get votes in both the 2006 and 2007 NSCAA and NAIA national polls, reaching as high as 23rd overall in the 2006 campaign.
Bergmann got his start in the college ranks at Hope International University in Fullerton, Calif., where he served as men's coach during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He was the 2005 NCCAA West Region Coach of the Year, as he guided his team to a seven-win improvement and a fourth-place finish at the national tournament. His squad finished that season ranked ninth in the country at the NCCAA level, all while Bergmann served as an Assistant AD and an adjunct professor in the kinesiology department.
Prior to collegiate coaching, Bergmann spent several years with the United Soccer League's Chicago Eagles Select Premier Development League (PDL) team, serving as the general manager, and was also involved with the Southern California Seahorses PDL team. He also spent time as the Director of Coaching for the Lincolnshire Lightning Soccer Club, where he was responsible for all facets of the day to day operations for the U8-U18 travel team. He has also served in the club ranks for Pegasus, Lindenhurst Soccer Club, the Chicago Eagles club team, Kopion F.C. and the SURF Soccer Club, along with the Southern California Development Program.
“The opportunity to compete in the ASUN Conference is challenging and rewarding,” Bergmann said. “I'm excited to dive in with the team this spring, build upon the great foundation that exists, and establish a championship culture together. Stetson gives us everything we need to do so. I absolutely can't wait to get started.”
Bergmann earned a bachelor’s degree from Westmont College in 1996, and a Master’s degree from Wheaton College in 2003. He and his wife, Kelly, have two children: Aidan and Mackenzie.
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