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Chappell named women’s soccer assistant coach

March 23, 2012
Christie Chappell

Christie Chappell

Christie Chappell, a former assistant at North Dakota State and a former all-region soccer player at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, was announced as an assistant coach for the Northern Illinois women’s soccer program March 23.

A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Chappell is the first hire on head coach John Ross’ staff, who took over the program Jan. 24.

“I am very excited to have Christie on our staff here at NIU and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the program,” Ross said. “She is very energetic and a go-getter. The best part of having Christie on the staff is (that) she really cares about the players as individuals.”

Chappell was an assistant coach at NDSU the last four seasons, where the Bison won a regular season championship (2009) and qualified for the NCAA Tournament (2010).

In 2011, North Dakota State finished as the runner-up in the Summit League Tournament.

Chappell worked primarily with the team’s attack. She also worked on a masters degree in sociology while in Fargo and coached four seasons with the Red River Soccer Club, working with U13 boy’s and U10 girl’s teams. In 2008 she was named the North Dakota Youth Soccer Association’s Boy’s Coach of the Year.

“I am so thrilled to be a Huskie and to be working with John,” Chappell said. “He is the kind of coach I would have played for and I wholeheartedly believe in his vision for the program. There is tremendous support for athletics at NIU, which provides us all the tools to run a successful program.”

From 2007-08, Chappell worked at Division II St. Cloud State where the Huskies clinched their first winning season since 1995 and advanced to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament. She broke into coaching at her alma mater in 2006, where she starred for the Golden Eagles from 2002-05.

She was twice named first team All-NSIC, as well as earning NSCAA All-Region honors and went on to shatter UMC’s career record in goals (25) and points scored (62). She graduated from Minnesota-Crookston in 2006 with a degree in business management and received the NCAA’s Degree Completion Award.

Chappell currently owns a “C” license from the United States Soccer Federation.

For more information on NIU women’s soccer and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.