Indiana State University

Indiana State University Athletics
401 North 4th St - ISU Arena Suite 110 Terre Haute, IN 47809

Division 1 Indiana Midwest

Public Medium National competitor

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Paul Lawrence

Paul Lawrence was named the fourth women's soccer head coach in program history in March 2023.

Lawrence guided the Sycamores to a standout season on the pitch in 2024 as Indiana State posted a 10-6-5 record, 4-3-3 in Missouri Valley play on the year. The Sycamores were undefeated at home with a 5-0-4 mark in Memorial Stadium on their way to scoring a program-record 34 goals on the year. Indiana State tied the program record for most wins (10), and picked up their first postseason win since 2016 with their 2-1 victory over Southern Illinois in the MVC Championships First Round. The Sycamores led the MVC in GAA (.86) over their 21 matches thanks in part to a program-record 10 shutouts in goal. Mackenzie Kent, Brooklyn Woods, and Maddie Alexander all earned United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region and All-MVC honors to highlight the season, while Alex Lehnert was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team.

The Sycamores led the NCAA Division I in ties in their first season under the tutelage of head coach Paul Lawrence in the 2023 season. Indiana State posted a 2-6-10 overall record on the year with wins over SIUE and Illinois State. Indiana State started the year with ties in their first four matches including scoreless affairs against both Louisville (0-0) and Miami (Ohio) (0-0) to spark a defensive effort that signified the Sycamores' efforts on the year. Maddie Helling earned All-Conference recognition on the Indiana State defensive backline, while five Sycamores earned All-MVC Scholar-Athlete status.

Lawrence came to Indiana State following a six-year coaching stint at Florida Southern College where he led the Moccasins to their first Sunshine State regular season championship in program history in the fall of 2022

Lawrence guided Florida Southern College to a 36-32-13 overall record since 2017 including a 13-2-4 mark this past fall. The Mocs hosted the first ever conference semifinals in school history and appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years. FSC added the program's first NCAA postseason win this fall beating Mississippi College in double-overtime.

He was named the 2022 SSC Coach of the Year becoming just the second soccer coach in school history to win the award. The team completed the 2022 season with 13 wins (most since 2008), eight conference wins (program record), 45 goals (third-most in school history), averaged 2.37 goals a game (second-best), and set a new school record with nine shutouts in the season, allowing only 15 goals all year. FSC also featured their first All-American selection with Morgan Collica named to the D2CCA All-America Third Team.

"I'm looking forward to the start of something very special here," Lawrence said. "Sherard and Angie (Lansing) were instrumental in shaping my decision to make Indiana State my new home. I can't thank them enough for this opportunity and their trust in me. I have a clear vision for where I feel we can take Indiana State soccer."

Among the highlights during his time at Florida Southern include six All-Region selections, 10 All-Conference selections, the 2022 SSC Freshman of the Year (Angelina Coelho) and Defensive Player of the Year (Morgan Collica). The Mocs also excelled in the classroom earning three CoSIDA Academic All-American selections, 12 All-District selections, 36 D2ADA Academic Achievement Awards, and 121 SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll selections.

"We are eager to welcome Paul and his family to Terre Haute and into the Sycamore community," Senior Associate A.D./Senior Woman Administrator Angie Lansing said. "I have been impressed with his attention to detail and how he invested in our team during the hiring process. I look forward to working with him as he builds relationships in his quest for championships."

Prior to his time at FSC, Lawrence served as the head coach at Knox College in Illinois from 2014-16 leading the Prairie Fire to a 35-20-3 overall record. His 2016 team was the best in school history going 19-1-1 on the way to winning the Midwest Conference regular-season and tournament championships for the first time and earning the program's first bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The 2016 season featured the Prairie Fire setting numerous school and conference records. Knox College went undefeated through the regular season for the first time since 1919. They outscored their opponents 65-6 and posted 17 shutouts with a 0.28 goals-against average that ranked fifth in the nation in Division III.

The team also ranked third nationally in shutout percentage (.810), seventh in save percentage (.903), and 23rd in scoring offense (3.10 goals per game). Knox also earned a top-25 ranking in the NSCAA national poll for the first time in program history, five players earned All-MWC honors, three were named to the All-North Region Team, and Lawrence was selected the MWC Coach-of-the-Year.

When Lawrence was named the head women's soccer coach at Knox College in January of 2014, the Prairie Fire had not had a winning season in 18 years, not qualified for the conference tournament since 1995, nor won a conference game since 2011.

After a 3-14 campaign in his first season, Lawrence guided them to a 13-5-2 record in 2015 and a spot in the conference championship game for the first time ever. Their 9½-game improvement was the third-best in NCAA Division III that year and tied for the ninth-best all-time at that level. One year later, Lawrence led them to their school-record 19 wins and their first trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Lawrence came to Knox College from Northwood University in Michigan where he spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons as an assistant coach under Dean Pappas. He helped the Timberwolves make back-to-back Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournaments and nearly upset undefeated and eventual national champion Grand Valley State in the 2013 GLIAC Tournament.

In addition to his time at Knox and Northwood, Lawrence spent one year at Alma College where he was an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach under Jeff Hosler. He helped the Scots win the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship with the best record in school history (18-4-1) and qualify for the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

Prior to moving to the United States, Lawrence worked as assistant men's soccer coach and goalkeeping coach at Bournemouth University before taking on his duties at Alma College. While studying at BU, he was also involved with video analysis for English professional soccer club AFC Bournemouth.

Lawrence currently holds a USSF C License, NSCAA Premier Diploma, NSCAA Goalkeeper III Diploma, as well as various USSF and English FA coaching licenses. He was a member of the Region II ODP staff as part of the girls' youth selection camp in July of 2013.

Lawrence graduated from Bournemouth University in 2011. He and his wife Maria have two daughters, London Olivia and Sydney.

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Chris Gnehm

Chris Gnehm joined the Indiana State women’s soccer coaching staff in January 2024 as the Associate Head Coach. He comes to the Sycamores by way of Palm Beach Atlantic following a nine-year stint as the head coach with the Sailfish, as well as assistant coaching stints at Coastal Carolina, Colorado, and Florida Atlantic.

During Gnehm’s time at PBA (2014-23), the Sailfish transitioned from a D-2 Independent to a full member of the Sunshine State Conference. He also became the first Palm Beach Atlantic coach to beat all of the SSC teams during his tenure.

The Sailfish posted a record-breaking season in 2021 with a 10-5 mark, including a 7-3 record in the SSC finishing second in the conference. The team posted its highest DII national ranking at No. 16 in the 2021 season and earned their first-ever first-round bye in the SSC tournament. PBA went up to No. 6 in the South Regional Rankings during the year.

Over his tenure at PBA, the Sailfish recorded four All-Region selections, five SSC weekly awards, and three All-Conference selections.

Gnehm took the reins 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 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.

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