Lees-McRae College and
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
.
Whalley was named head coach of Lionsbridge FC on 14 February 2018.
Whalley has served as Lionsbridge FC head coach since the club formed in 2018. In his first four seasons at LBFC, Whalley has posted an overall record of 32 wins, 16 losses and 10 draws. Under Whalley's direction, Lionsbridge has turned TowneBank Stadium into a fortress, winning 75% of its home games and hosted the USL League Two playoffs in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
During the Whalley era, Lionsbridge FC has sent 14 players into professional football including two MLS draft picks, five different USL professional clubs as well as clubs in England, Spain, Scotland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Australia and New Zealand.
Whalley is also the head coach at Chowan University in North Carolina, where he is the school's all-time wins leader and one of the most successful coaches in the history of NCAA Division II.
In 11 seasons as a college head coach since 2005, Whalley has amassed a 127-68-25 record.
Under Whalley's direction, Lees-McRae won 74 percent of its games, including a 77-22-11 record. He led the team to three Carolinas Conference titles (2007, 2008, 2009), two tournament titles (2008, 2009), a number one national ranking (2009), and an NCAA national runner-up finish (2009) and Sweet 16 appearance (2007).
Whalley remains ranked 5th among NCAA Division II college coaches and 23rd among all college coaches in career winning percentage. He coached 14 All-Americans and 32 All-Region players during his tenure with the Bobcats.
On 2 February 2010, Whalley was announced as head coach at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He took over a program that went 3-13-3 in the year prior to his appointment. Whalley's teams won six games in 2010 and again in 2011. One of those 2011 victories came against nationally ranked Northern Illinois in 2011, marking the first win over a ranked team since 2006.
Whalley returned to North Carolina in 2012 as an assistant coach at Appalachian State University and spent two seasons with the Mountaineers.
On 5 January 2014, Whalley was named head coach at Chowan. He inherited a program that went 1-14 in the year prior to his appointment. The team has since posted four consecutive winning seasons for the first time in school history. In 2014, his first season in Murfreesboro, Whalley led Chowan to a 12-8 record. In his second season, Chowan won the NCCAA South Region Championship. In 2017, the team posted a 67% winning percentage, the best mark in the Chowan history.
On 6 October 2016, the Chowan men's soccer team was announced as a recipients of the 2015-16 NSCAA Team Academic Awards. The team posted a team grade point average of 3.03.
Whalley previously served as head coach of the
West Virginia Chaos
West Virginia United (formerly West Virginia Chaos and West Virginia Alliance FC) is an American soccer team based in Charleston, West Virginia. Founded in 2003, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
Hi ...
of the
Premier Development League
USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional developmental association football, soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United Stat ...
in 2009.
Whalley lives in Suffolk, Va., with his wife, Alexis, and their sons, James and George.
Playing career
Whalley played his college soccer at
Mercyhurst College
(Seize the day)
, former_names = Mercyhurst College (1926–2012)
, established =
, type = Private university
, religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic (Sisters of Mercy)
, endowment = $31.8 million
, faculty = 136 full-time
, administrat ...
where he helped lead the Lakers to the NCAA Division II tournament and an NCAA Final Four appearance in 2002. He was part of two GLIAC championships in 2001 and 2002 and was named First Team All-GLIAC in those same seasons.
After his college days, Whalley also appeared for the
Reading Rage
Reading United AC is an American soccer team based in Reading, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1995, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The club plays its home games at Don Thomas Stadium on the campus of ...
(now
Reading United AC
Reading United AC is an American soccer team based in Reading, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1995, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The club plays its home games at Don Thomas Stadium on the campus ...
) and starred as a player/assistant coach for the
West Virginia Chaos
West Virginia United (formerly West Virginia Chaos and West Virginia Alliance FC) is an American soccer team based in Charleston, West Virginia. Founded in 2003, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
Hi ...
from 2005-08.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whalley, Chris
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Mercyhurst Lakers men's soccer players
People from Suffolk, Virginia
American men's soccer players
American soccer coaches
Men's association football midfielders
Milwaukee Panthers men's soccer coaches
Reading United AC players
West Virginia United players
Lees–McRae Bobcats men's soccer coaches
USL League Two coaches
Appalachian State Mountaineers men's soccer coaches
Chowan Hawks men's soccer coaches
English expatriate men's footballers
English expatriate football managers
English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Expatriate soccer coaches in the United States