Chris Bentley - Soccer Coach - Troy University Athletics

Chris Bentley

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
chrisbentley@troy.edu
Phone:
5758

2013 marks the sixth season for Chris Bentley at the helm of the Troy University soccer team. In five years atop the program, Bentley has amassed 46 wins and led the Trojans to four consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship berths.

Prior to being promted to head coach in 2008, the soccer program had just 50 wins in its 11 seasons, with just one postseason appearance. Bentley’s teams have also been model students in the classroom, earning the NSCAA Team Academic Award in all five seasons.

The team has achieved unprecedented success on and off the field over the past five seasons, posting the best five-year winning span in program history, shattering virtually every program record, and earning multiple team and individual accolades.

Bentley started his Troy tenure as assistant coach for one season in 2007. As the assistant, he helped the women to impressive improvements, achieving the third highest win total in program history, moving them up 37 spots in the NCAA Division I RPI rankings from 2006 to 2007.

Off the field, the women earned their second consecutive NSCAA Team Academic Award and nine student-athletes were honored by the Sun Belt Conference for their academic achievement. Four students were named to the Commissioner’s List and five to the Academic Honor Roll.

“This administration made an impression on me the day I set foot on campus for the assistant job,” Bentley said. “The fact that they have not changed and the university has continued to move forward in their goals with facility improvements and overall support for all programs is a testament to how truly spectacular Troy is now and where it is going in the future.”

Prior to his arrival at Troy University, Bentley spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons as the associate head soccer coach for the men and women at Delta State University (NCAA Division II) in Cleveland, Miss.

At DSU, Bentley helped lead the men and women to dramatic improvements. The 2006 season saw records broken in virtually every category on both sides. The program placed four players on All-Gulf South Conference teams, which were firsts in program history. Both teams set records for wins in a season, conference wins in a season, goals scored in a season, goals scored in a game, and shutouts recorded, just to name a few.

For their efforts, the women’s side was named fifth in the NCAA Division II Top 20 Most Improved teams. The program also saw tremendous success in the classroom in 2005 and 2006, placing 29 players on the GSC honor roll, two players on the GSC All-Academic Team and one on the NSCAA Scholar All-America Team.

Aside from his coaching duties at DSU, Bentley served as a staff coach for the Chicago Fire Juniors of Mississippi coaching players around the Delta. He was also on staff with the Mississippi Olympic Development Program where he had the honor of coaching state, regional and national pool players.

Before his arrival at DSU, Bentley served as the assistant men’s coach for the 2004 season at Ripon College (NCAA Division III) in Ripon, Wis.

While in Wisconsin, Bentley helped foster three all-conference players, one conference player of the year, one all-region player, and five academic all-conference players.

He also coached boy’s and girl’s high school soccer for the Oshkosh Area School District and coached club soccer for the Menasha Area Soccer Club and Oshkosh United Soccer Club. Additionally, he was the Coaching Director/Educator for the Menasha Area Soccer Club’s recreational programs.

A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Bentley earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and his Master’s Degree from Delta State University. In addition, Bentley has earned the USSF “A” License, NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma, and NSCAA National Youth Diploma. He is currently a staff coach for the State (AL), Region III, and Super Y National Olympic Development Program’s. He also serves as a coaching educator for the State of Alabama teaching the USSF E & D Licenses.

Troy Soccer Accomplishments under Bentley: