MURFREESBORO, NC- The Chowan University athletic department and Vice President/Director of Athletics Ozzie McFarland have announced the hiring of Chris Whalley as head coach of the Hawks' men's soccer program.  Whalley stated, "I am excited to begin a new era of Chowan men's soccer and am looking forward to the chance to continue to develop and learn under the tutelage of AD Ozzie McFarland.  I believe my coaching experiences over the past 11 years will help me take this program to new heights and repay the faith shown to me by the Chowan University athletic department and President White."
 
McFarland stated, "Chris' coaching success gives us an opportunity to make major strides in our soccer program. He is the type of coach who will fit well with the coaches and athletic personnel in our department.  He will demonstrate the competence and work ethic that is needed and that of which will be our standard. We are extremely fortunate to have him on our staff."
 
Prior to Chowan, Whalley served as an assistant coach at Appalachian State University for two seasons.  He assisted with all facets of the men's soccer program including booster and alumni relations while guiding the Mountaineers to the SoCon quarter and semifinals in 2012. Whalley noted, "I am truly honored to accept the position as the new head men's soccer coach at Chowan University but would like to thank Appalachian State University for all of their support."
 
 Before his stint at Appalachian State, Whalley developed training plans and worked with elite level soccer players in Wisconsin as head coach of the FC Milwaukee Nationals of the US Development Academy.  Whalley also spent three seasons as head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he doubled the squad's win total from the previous regime and led the team to an upset of nationally ranked Northern Illinois in 2011, marking the first win over a ranked team since 2006.  He had three student-athletes go on to receive professional contracts while the team cumulative grade point average improved to over 3.0.
 
Before coaching at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Whalley spent the 2005-2010 seasons at Lees-McRae College.   Whalley accumulated a 77-22-10 career record at Lees-McRae and guided the Bobcats to a #1 National Ranking in 2009 and NCAA National Runner-Up finish that same season.  Whalley guided Lees McRae to regular season Conference Carolinas titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and Conference Carolinas tournament championships in 2007 and 2008. His winning percentage of .78 is the best in Lees-McRae soccer history. Whalley remains ranked 5^th among NCAA Division II college coaches and 23^rd among all college coaches in career winning percentage.  He coached 14 All-Americans and 32 All-Region players during his tenure while earning NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year accolades in 2007 and Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and 2009.
 
 In addition to his post with the Bobcats, Whalley served as the head coach of the West Virginia Chaos in the USL Premier Development League and also served as selection chairperson for Division II MLS in 2009.  He played collegiately at Mercyhurst College 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.  He also played professionally for the Reading Rage and United Soccer League in 2003-2004.
 
Whalley takes the reins of a Hawks' program that finished 1-14 in 2013.