Marquette hires Saint Louis associate head coach Chris Allen to lead women’s soccer program

Marquette University has hired Chris Allen as its fifth head women’s soccer coach in program history, Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl announced.

Allen arrives at Marquette after most recently working with the women’s program at Saint Louis University for the last eight seasons. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2020, following three campaigns as an assistant and one as a volunteer assistant. Allen also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

“When we began this search, we were looking for somebody with a significant history of success on the pitch and just as importantly, we wanted an individual who understands and embraces the Jesuit mission and the core values of Marquette University,” Scholl said. “Finally, the successful candidate needed to have a passion for providing student-athletes with the transformational Marquette experience they so richly deserve. In Chris, I believe we have found that person.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris, his wife Jodie and their children Bailey, Parker and Grayson to the Marquette family,” Scholl said.

In his eight years with the program under head coach Katie Shields, Allen helped guide SLU to a 131-30-11 overall record, five Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championships (67-6-5 record in A-10), six A-10 tournament titles and six-straight NCAA Championship appearances. During his tenure, Allen coached five All-America selections, 15 all-region honorees and 25 all-conference team members. A total of 10 players claimed an A-10 player of the year award (offensive, defensive, goalkeeper, rookie) and multiple student-athletes were honored for academic success.

“I am incredibly honored and privileged to be named the women’s soccer head coach at Marquette University,” Allen said. “I would like to thank Bill Scholl and Sarah Bobert for believing in my vision of restoring Marquette soccer back to BIG EAST and national prominence.

“I also want to thank Chris May, Janet Oberle, and Katie Shields for all their support, mentorship and guidance during our eight years of unprecedented success at SLU,” Allen added. “I wouldn’t have this opportunity without their tremendous belief in me.

“I can’t wait to get started working with the Marquette team,” Allen said. “I am excited to connect with the alumni, pour into the current team and craft our vision for the future of a special program and university. We are Marquette!”

In 2023, SLU finished 19-3-2 overall and 9-0-1 in the Atlantic-10 Conference, claiming the league’s regular season and tournament titles en route the program’s first-ever appearance in the round of 16 in the NCAA Championship. The Billikens set school records of 24 games, 74 goals, 70 assists, 218 points, +59 goal differential, 11 consecutive shutouts, 1099:09 consecutive shutout minutes, and 457 shots. Saint Louis equaled school marks for shutouts (15) and longest unbeaten streak (18).

“Marquette University has made an incredible hire in Chris Allen,” Shields said. “He has been instrumental in every facet of building Saint Louis University into a nationally elite program over the last eight years. Chris is a master teacher, recruiter and culture builder. It’s only a matter of time until he turns Marquette women’s soccer into a perennial women’s soccer power.”

Prior to his stint as SLU’s volunteer assistant, Allen spent nine seasons as girls’ soccer head coach at Webster Groves High School in Saint Louis.

Allen transformed Webster Groves into a perennial power in Missouri. During his tenure, the Statesmen achieved a national ranking as high as fourth in the country and finished third in the Class 3 state tournament in 2015; enjoyed six 20-win seasons; won numerous conference and tournament titles; and produced more than 30 players who went on to compete at the collegiate level. Allen tallied a 164-71-5 record at the helm.

Allen twice was tabbed Missouri Class 3 Region Coach of the Year and was selected to coach in the 2015 Missouri Athletic Club High School Soccer All-Star Game. He garnered five conference Coach of the Year awards.

Allen spent two seasons as boys’ head coach at Gonzaga Prep and one season as girls’ head coach at Mead High School, both located in Spokane, Washington. He served as an assistant coach of boys’ teams at Webster Groves (six seasons), Rockwood Summit (two seasons) and Gonzaga Prep (two seasons). Allen was a girls’ assistant coach at Webster Groves (one season) and Gonzaga Prep (two seasons).

Allen was a three-year starter at Kirkwood High School before playing one season at Calvin College, where he earned second-team All-Conference plaudits. He transferred to Truman State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science/sports management in 2002.

Allen and his wife, Jodie, have three children; Bailey, Parker and Grayson.