Malone University has hired Dr. Chris Carmichael as its new men’s soccer head coach, Malone athletic director Charlie Grimes announced today.  Dr. Carmichael, who is a professor in Malone’s Department of Natural Sciences and now adds coaching to his University responsibilities, has a great deal of playing and coaching experience to his credit. 

Coach Carmichael played intercollegiate soccer for Eastern Illinois University as an outside midfielder and defender and still actively plays and has been coaching for over 15 years.  Coach Carmichael is a clinician when it comes to principles and systems of play and encourages his players to advance their technical abilities and tactical awareness as they advance their soccer careers.  He encourages and allows his players to express their creative talents on the pitch and to provide freedom to play a system that allows for tremendous rhythm of play and creative attacking patterns and foster their passion for this great game through mentorship and reciprocal appreciation and respect for each other.   He uses Coerver training methods and other novel and innovative systems for increasing technical abilities of his players.

As a coach, he has extensive coaching experience having coached numerous club and high school teams since 1998, many of which won division titles and placed teams as either champions or finalist in most tournaments competed in.  In addition, Coach Carmichael is on the coaching staff of the Internationals Soccer Club, one of the best premiere level clubs in the Midwest/Eastern U.S.  He also runs technical training sessions for high school players and was a previous technical trainer for the University of West Florida men’s soccer players.  As a coach, he has successfully completed the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) E and D licenses and his NSCAA Regional and Advanced Regional Diplomas and he also has a Level 7 and 8 soccer referee license.

"It is a great privilege and honor to be selected to head the men's soccer program,” said Carmichael.  “I look forward to being a part of the process that will help build a winning tradition at Malone and to see our men's character and spiritual maturity increased.  We have a great group of very coachable and talented young men that are ready and eager to kickstart the fall 2009 season."

Grimes is equally as excited to have Carmichael joining the Pioneer coaching staff.  “Chris Carmichael is a dynamic and high energy individual,” commented Grimes.  “We are thrilled to have him take on coaching our team, and bringing his positive attitude and tireless work ethic to our Athletics department.”

Lucas Martorana - Assistant Coach

Lucas Martorana is returning for his second year on the Malone Men's Soccer coaching staff.  Lucas is a young coach with great energy, experience and a strong work ethic. He has experience coaching all levels from youth through college. He holds his NSCAA Advanced Regional Coaching Diploma and plans to pursue his National Diploma within the next year. As a player, he has played at both the NAIA and NCAA Division I levels. He has gained great experience playing with premiere clubs and being involved at the amateur, semi-professional, and professional levels.

Lucas has his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Malone University and is currently pursuing his Masters in Counselor Education with a focus in school counseling. He is also actively involved in his church and its youth programs.  Lucas is a players' coach, expects nothing short of excellence and complete effort from the team and is an excellent technician and teacher of the game.

Barry McConnochie - Assistant Coach

Coach Barry McConnochie is a native of Scotland and is entering his first year on the Malone Men's Soccer coaching staff after having just recently completed his four-year collegiate soccer career at Malone. Barry is an extremely passionate and determined young coach who is very driven and is always seeking to learn more about the game. Barry has only begun his coaching career since finishing his playing career at Malone and is grateful and excited to have the opportunity to work with Coach Chris Carmichael and Coach Lucas Martorana this coming season.

As an athlete, Barry did whatever was asked of him without excuses, playing in a variety of positions and always giving everything he could. He served as a team captain his senior year and is looking to pursue his coaching licenses in the near future, as well as continuing his playing career for as long as possible. Prior to college, Coach McConnochie played in numerous premiere and professional clubs in Scotland, including Cumbernauld Heart (U13), Westfield Balloch Eastfield (U15), Harestanes Queens Pro Youth Team (U16-U19), West Park (U19) and Netherton (U21).  Barry has his undergraduate degree in Adult Fitness and is a Personal Trainer.