Feb. 6, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University Director of Athletics Dan Schumacher has announced the hiring of Chris Koenig as head women's soccer coach.

Koenig, assistant women's soccer coach at Southern Illinois Edwardsville the past four seasons, is the fifth head coach in the 21-history of the Lewis women's soccer program. Koenig replaces Bill Bruno, who resigned in October to pursue a career in law enforcement.

During his four seasons as an assistant at SIUE, the Cougars posted a 51-24-3 record and were ranked as high as No. 9 in the NCAA Division II national poll. The team qualified for the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament each season and made an NCAA tournament appearance in 2005.

Koenig's main responsibility at SIUE was to organize and train team defense and goalkeepers. The Cougars set single-season school records in shutouts, goals-against average and fewest goals allowed under Koenig's watch.

Koenig's other responsibilities at SIUE were team training, evaluating and recruitment of women's soccer student athletes, game management, fundraising and game tape evaluation.

Prior to joining the staff at SIUE, Koenig gained head and assistant coaching experience with various youth programs and clubs in and around the St. Louis area dating back to 1999. In 2004 he served as head coach of the under 18 women's Metro United Soccer Club that secured the Super Y-league Midwest Regional Championship.

A former goalkeeper at SIUE, Koenig was a two-time academic all-conference selection and was named All-American Scholar by the United States Achievement Academy. He posted a goals-against average of 1.29 in 15 starts during his senior season.

Koenig holds coaching certifications from the U.S. Soccer Federation and the Royal Dutch Soccer Federation. He also is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Koenig earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology and a master of science degree in education with concentration in sport and exercise behavior and exercise physiology from SIUE.

Koenig has been married for six years to Ashly, an advertising executive and former SIUE softball player.

"I am extremely excited to be joining the Lewis athletics department," Koenig said. "Lewis has a great history of success on the athletic field and in the classroom. I plan to build on this tradition and take the women's soccer program to a higher level.

"I was impressed by the mission of Lewis and plan to lead the program according to those values. I would like to thank Dan Schumacher and the search committee for the opportunity to lead this team.

"I consider the GLVC one of the top conferences in the country," Koenig continued. "With experience as a player and coach in the conference, I know what it takes to be successful. Dan made it clear to me that the expectations for Lewis Athletics, and specifically this program, are being raised. I look forward to the challenge of guiding the program back to the top."

"Chris is a highly qualified individual who knows what it takes to be successful in our conference and in the classroom," Schumacher said. "I'm confident he has the know-how and drive to return Lewis women's soccer to the upper echelon of the conference."