In 2013, Chris McLain completed his 10th season as associate head coach for the Colgate women’s soccer program, helping lead head coach Kathy Brawn and the Raiders to another Patriot League Tournament appearance.
McLain’s wealth of soccer knowledge and organization, coupled with his extensive experience as both player and coach, are just a few reasons why he has aided in more than 100 wins since joining the staff. During his stint, the team has captured three Patriot League Tournament championships, four Patriot League regular season titles and three berths to the NCAA tournament.
The hallmark of McLain’s tenure at Colgate has been his ability to recruit top-class student-athletes. In his 10 years, he has been instrumental in recruiting six Patriot League Rookies of the Year, two Offensive Players of the Year, one Defensive Player of the Year, and three Patriot League Tournament MVPs. Two of these players were four-time All-Patriot League selections, while eight were three-time All-Patriot League honorees.
From the time he was hired in Hamilton in 2004, McClain made an immediate impact for the Raiders. In his first year as an assistant, he helped lead Colgate to one of the most decorated seasons in program history. The Raiders finished 13-7-2 overall and 5-1-1 in league action, taking home the title of Patriot League regular season champions and Patriot League Tournament champions. Two big wins during the 2004 season were against No. 8 Princeton, which finished that season in the NCAA College Cup semifinals; as well as an NCAA First Round tournament victory over No. 17 Arizona, the Pac-10 Champions. That NCAA tournament win was the first in program and Patriot League history.
In his second season as assistant coach, Colgate nearly duplicated its success from the year before by finishing 12-5-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play. The Raiders repeated as Patriot League regular season champs for the second consecutive year.
During the 2006 season it was more of the same, as Colgate finished 13-6 overall and advanced to the Patriot League Tournament championship, falling 1-0 to Navy.
The Raiders rolled through the Patriot League in 2009, winning the Patriot League regular season crown with a 5-1-1 conference record. The program won its 11th Patriot League Tournament championship and made yet another trip to the NCAAs, finishing the season 11-7-3 overall.
In 2011, the coaching staff helped guide Colgate to another Patriot League regular season championship by posting an 11-6-3 overall record.
Colgate was back in the NCAA tournament again in 2012 after winning its 12th Patriot League Tournament title. The Raiders finished the season with an 11-6-4 overall record. This was enough for them to host the first round of the NCAA tourney against Big East powerhouse Rutgers.
Away from Colgate, McLain is extremely active in coaching and promoting youth soccer. He is the Director of Coaching and Founder of Odyssey Sport Soccer Club. Since its start, the club has evolved from a community where club soccer never existed and now has more than 300 members from all over upstate New York.
McLain is also active in the Olympic Development Program, serving as head coach of the 1998’s New York West Olympic Development Team. On the regional level, he works as a staff coach for US Region I teams. On the national level, McLain served in 2012 on the Antigua Women’s National Team staff.
Prior to that in the winter of 2008, McLain was selected to work with the U.S. National Team staff for the U18 U.S. Women’s National Team in advance of a domestic training camp held in Sunrise, Fla. This camp was highlighted by a couple of games against the U17 U.S. Women’s National Team, which was preparing for the 2008 U17 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Before his arrival in Hamilton, McLain served two seasons as head coach for the women’s soccer team at his alma mater, Eastern Nazarene. While coaching at the NCAA Division III program, he led the Crusaders in 2003 to a school record for wins in a season. McLain also has had significant experience as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s teams at the University of New England in Maine.
McLain played college soccer for one year at Point Loma Nazarene before transferring to Eastern Nazarene for his final three seasons. After college, he continued to play semi-professionally with LASA powerhouse Portuguese Sports.
McLain earned his bachelor’s degree in general sciences with a minor in chemistry. He holds an Advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaching Association of America (NSCAA) and a U.S. Soccer Federation “A” Coaching License.
McLain and his wife, Claire, are the parents of three children: Maeghan, Gavin and Caitlin.
