Chris Whalley
Head Coach Chris Whalley starts his first year as head coach for the Chaos but is no stranger to the club.
In the 2005 season Whalley served as player/assistant coach in his first year for the Chaos and led the team in minutes and was second on the team in total points and goals scored, while helping the Chaos to best record in franchise history. In 2006 Whalley captained and served as assistant coach for the Chaos and led them to a third place finish in the Mid-Atlantic conference scoring 17 points on the year and was tied for fourth in the nation in assists. In 2007 Whalley played every minute for the Chaos and led the team in goals and received an honorable mention for the PDL Eastern Conference. Whalley also appeared in every game in 2008 and is the Chaos all time leading points and goal scorer.
Whalley originally joined the Chaos after a successful playing career with the professional club, the Reading Rage (Penn.) of the United States Pro-Select League. Whalley played his collegiate soccer with Mercyhurst College in Erie, Penn. as a midfielder, playing in the NCAA tournament twice with the Lakers and in the NCAA DII Final Four in 2002. Whalley was also First Team All-GLIAC in both of his seasons with Mercyhurst College. In 2003 Whalley was selected to represent the Great Britain Student Team in a number of games in the United Kingdom. Along with this Whalley has had playing experience with the English professional teams Nottingham Forest FC and Brentford Football Club up to the U18 level.
Whalley has also been the Head Coach of Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, NC for the past 4 years.
Whalley has led the Bobcats program to back-to-back Conference Carolinas Regular Season titles and Tournament Championships (2007 and 2008). He guided the program to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history and advanced to the Elite Eight (2007) concluding with a final end of season ranking of #7 in the nation, returning to the Sweet Sixteen this fall (2008) with a final of ranking of #13 in the nation. In addition has had players named Conference and Regional players of the year and numerous players named to the All-Conference, All-Region and All-American teams. In collegiate soccer Whalley has a remarkable overall record of 54-19-10 in four seasons with the Bobcats, a winning percentage of 76%.