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Kris Bertsch
Kris Bertsch will enter his first season as the Lindenwood men's soccer head coach in the fall of 2023. Bertsch was hired on January 11, 2023.
Bertsch comes to Lindenwood after spending five seasons at Saint Louis University as the top assistant coach where he helped guide the Billikens to an impressive 53-22-14 record. Individually, Bertsch has been recognized as one of the Top Assistant Coaches in the country four different times. During his time at SLU, Bertsch was a key part of a staff that rebuilt the Billiken program into a national power. Saint Louis captured back-to-back Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2021 and 2022, resulting in two-straight NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship appearances. In 2022, Bertsch and the SLU staff earned the honor as the NCAA Division I Southeast Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.
In 2021, Bertsch helped the Billikens earn a No. 2 national ranking during the season, finish undefeated in the regular season, and reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship, which was SLU’s deepest run since 2003. The Billikens concluded the year with a 16-1-4 record, and earned a top-10 nod from three reputable sources, including a No. 5 ranking from Top Drawer Soccer. After eight players signed professional contracts, SLU reloaded and defended it’s A-10 regular-season and tournament titles, and moved to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a final ranking of No. 25 in the polls.
In his five seasons at SLU, Bertsch has coached 34 all-conference selections, including the 2021 and 2022 A-10 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. A total of 15 players have earned all-region honors, and two players have earned All-American plaudits. In 2021, Bertsch coached a remarkable six players who would go on to be drafted in Major League Soccer, including three who earned MLS Generation Adidas contracts and four who were drafted in the first round. In all, 17 Billikens have earned professional soccer contracts since the 2019 season. Bertsch helped the program acquire five top-25 recruiting classes, including three ranked in the Top 10. In 2023, Bertsch and the SLU staff has earned the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.
Hired by Atlanta United FC in the summer of 2016, Bertsch was an integral part of the academy staff for two years. The academy's aim was to help provide professional pathways to MLS through on the field development. Atlanta United earned the US Soccer Developmental Academy National Championship in its first season. Bertsch assisted in helping to develop more than 25 Atlanta United players earn youth national team invitations, while the first team concluded the 2018 season as MLS Cup Champions in the club’s second season.
Bertsch’s collegiate coaching career includes stops at national powers Louisville, Xavier, Syracuse, and UConn. In all, he has more than 20 years of college coaching and playing experience, including helping to develop more than 60 collegiate players to the professional ranks. As a student-athlete and coach, Bertsch has been a part of 12 NCAA Tournament teams including advancing to at least the NCAA second round on nine occasions, the round of 16 on six occasions, and the NCAA Elite Eight twice.
Bertsch spent five seasons at Xavier, including the last three (2012-14) as Associate Head Coach. During his tenure at Xavier, the Musketeers advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times in five seasons after having never qualified for the tournament previously. In 2010, the Musketeers had the second biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I, going from 2-13-1 to 10-7-4 and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. He was part of the BIG EAST Conference's Coaching Staff of the Year in 2014, and in 2011 was tabbed the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
While at Xavier, Bertsch helped the Musketeers win their first ever A-10 Championships in 2010 and 2011, and did so by impressively knocking off the top three seeds in both seasons. Xavier qualified for the NCAA Tournament on two other occasions as at-large bids, including a run to the NCAA Third Round before losing to the eventual national champion. The Musketeers were the 10th-most winning program during Bertsch's five seasons after compiling an impressive 61-28-17 record during that time. Xavier was also ranked in the NSCAA Top 25 for 25 straight weeks during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Bertsch spent one year as an assistant at Syracuse (2009) and Louisville (2015). He also served as the Director of Soccer Operations at Connecticut for four seasons from 2005 to 2009. During that time, the Huskies compiled an astonishing 59-18-11 record and advanced to four straight NCAA Tournaments, including two NCAA Third Rounds and an NCAA Quarterfinal appearance. The Huskies won two BIG EAST Regular-Season and Tournament Championships and were ranked either the nation’s top team or the #2 team in the national polls during the course of all four of his seasons at UConn.
Bertsch was a four-year starting midfielder at American University, where he earned first-team all-conference honors. Bertsch helped lead the Eagles to a Patriot League Championship, and two NCAA Tournaments, including a second round and NCAA Third Round appearance. He graduated from American with a marketing degree in 2003.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING (January of 2023)
Kevin Kalish, Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer Head Coach
“Kris is an excellent coach who understands what it takes to win in college soccer. His incredible work ethic, passion for developing student-athletes, preparation and attention to detail are second to none. Those traits, compiled with his ability to recruit, will lead Lindenwood University to success in the very near future. He is a tremendous person, leader and man of character. I look forward to watching his teams compete for championships and thrive under his guidance.”
Michael Seabolt, Missouri State University Men’s Soccer Head Coach
“Kris is an experienced and proven coach and will make a smooth transition to program leadership. He has excelled at the Division I level everywhere he’s been and also worked at the top levels of youth soccer. He has made his home in St. Louis for the last five years and I have no doubt he can develop Lindenwood into a top NCAA Division I program.”
Tim Cupello, University of California Riverside Men’s Soccer Head Coach
“Kris has been apart of many successful college programs throughout his career. Specifically, when he arrived at Xavier, he was helping take over a bottom level NCAA Division I program. Within 10 months, Xavier was playing in the NCAA Tournament. I strongly believe his incredible ability to lead ambitious student-athletes in becoming the best version of themselves is a key ingredient to his success. He has the ability to build a level of trust with the individuals he is leading, which then allows his attention to detail to provide constructive feedback that is welcomed and applied. Lastly, with his strong recruiting ties within the St. Louis area, he is THE perfect fit as the next leader for Lindenwood.”
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