Soccer: Women's Coaching Staff

Chris Cissell
Women's Soccer Head Coach
cissellc@william.jewell.edu

Building on the success of its 2001 championship season in women’s soccer, William Jewell College has named women’s soccer coach Chris Cissell to the position of Coordinator of Soccer Programs.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity of directing both men’s and women’s teams,” Cissell says. “We set some ambitious goals for the women’s team this year, and the team members were able to exceed even their own high expectations. They played great team soccer, and the players’ ‘team-first’ attitude was the key to our success. I hope to instill that same spirit with the men’s team.”

A 1994 graduate of William Jewell, Cissell led the school’s women’s soccer team to its first Heart of America Athletic Conference season and tournament championships this fall. Beginning the season unranked, the team finished in ninth place nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics rankings and in first place in the NAIA’s Region V. The team scored an 18-2 overall season record and was 16-1 in regular season play.

Cissell was named the HAAC’s Conference Coach of the Year for 2000 and 2001. He has led William Jewell to a 33-8 record over the past two seasons.

Cissell joined the Jewell faculty in 1999. He served as Youth Soccer Sales Manager for the Arrowhead Sports organization, where he developed marketing and sales strategies and directed and coordinated soccer camps, clinics, tournaments and player appearances for the Kansas City Wizards soccer team. H also served as Youth Soccer coordinator and Account Executive for the Kansas City Wizards. He is a licensed coach for the United States Soccer Federation and a state-licensed coach for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He has evaluated player talent as a Missouri Olympic Development Program Scout.

While participating in one of William Jewell’s overseas study programs at Harlaxton College in England, he was a member of the semi-professional Grantham Football Club in 1993. He served as captain of Jewell’s varsity soccer team in 1993-94 and was a four-year varsity starter.
Jewell’s women’s soccer team ranked in fourth place nationally in team goals scored per game and in seventh place nationally in team total goals scored for the 2001 season. Among other honors amassed by team members under Cissell’s leadership in 2001:
· Kristin Neher (freshman, from Oak Park High School)—Tied for third in the nation in individual goal scoring (38) and ranks third in the nation for individual point leaders (91); NAIA 2nd Team All-American; NAIA Region V Player of the Year and All Region Team; HAAC 1st Team All Conference; named Region Player of the Week twice; named Conference Player of the Week three times; led HAAC and Region V in goals (38) and total points (91)
· Aly Diaz (freshman, Oak Park High School)—NAIA Honorable Mention All-American; NAIA Region V All-Region Team; HAAC Conference Defensive MVP; HAAC 1st Team All-Conference; named Conference Player of the Week twice; ranked 8th nationally in individual assists
· Rebekah Lassiter (sophomore, Liberty High School)—NAIA Region V 2nd Team All-Region; HAAC 1st Team all-Conference
In addition to his coaching duties for the Jewell teams, Cissell will conduct the college’s winter soccer clinics and camp. The clinics are scheduled for Jan. 26, Feb. 9 and Feb 23, with the camp set for March 2. Proceeds benefit William Jewell’s men’s and women’s varsity soccer programs.

Assistant Coach: Johnny Chain
Coach Johnny Chain is the Assistant Men and Women’s Soccer coach at William Jewell College. Chain is beginning his third season at Jewell where he has helped the program enjoy enormous success, 33-8 record since Chain joined the Cardinals. Chain will be the next head women’s soccer coach at Oak Park High School, where he has coached for the past four seasons helping compile a record of 68-16-12, including two conference titles, two district championships and two state quarterfinal appearances. He is the co-director of coaching for a youth premier club in the area and coaches two premier youth teams. Coach Chain runs the Northland Speed Camps and is an expert in speed and agility training.