CLEVELAND, Tenn.-After nine seasons of directing Lee University women's soccer, Chris Hennessey has resigned and has been named the new head coach of the University of South Alabama's women's program in Mobile, Alabama. The Jaguars are members of the Sun Belt Conference.
 
"Following an extensive and very competitive search, we are extremely excited to welcome Chris as our new head women's soccer coach," South Alabama Athletic Director Dr. Joel Erdmann said. "His experience and demonstrated level of consistent excellence speaks for itself. His authentic concern for the good of the student-athletes he coaches, combined with many other coaching intangibles, made him the obvious choice for our position."
 
Hennessey posted a 130-31-21 mark during his Lee tenure. During the 2023 season, he led the Lady Flames to a 16-1-4 record, capturing their third Gulf South Conference Championship and a bid to their 8^th NCAA Division II Tournament appearance where they suffered their lone loss of the season.
 
During his nine-year stint leading the Lady Flames, Hennessey and his squad made two NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances – 2016 and 2018 – and one Final Four appearance in 2018. Hennessey has also led the Lady Flames to three Gulf South Conference Tournament titles and four Gulf South regular season titles.
 
Hennessey, a native of Manchester, England, was named the Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year in 2021, following a 19-0-1 season. The Lee women's soccer staff also earned the United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year honor the same season.

He will replace Richard Moodie who leaves to become the head women's soccer coach at Purdue University. In seven seasons at South Alabama, Moodie's teams were 91-36-17 with four Sun Belt Conference titles, and four NCAA National Tournament appearances. This past season the Jaguars were 16-1-3 and Moodie was voted the SBC Coach of Year.
 
"I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Erdmann and the entire search committee for placing their trust in me to lead the women's soccer program at South Alabama," said Hennessey. "As I step into this role, I am excited about the journey ahead and committed to building upon the success achieved here over the past few years."

"I loved my time at Lee and want to thank all the players I have had the privilege of coaching over the past nine years. A special thanks goes to Dr. (Paul) Conn, Dr. (Mark) Walker and Larry Carpenter for their support in helping Lee soccer become what it is today."

"Coach Hennessey has led our women's soccer program with excellence every day for the past nine years. I want to thank him, his staff, and his family for their commitment to Lee University and for the difference they have made in the lives of our women's soccer student-athletes," said Lee Athletic Director John Maupin. "Chris has been a valuable member of the tight-knit coaching staff that we have here at Lee and we will miss him and his family. I wish him, Jenae, and their children all the best in this new opportunity.
 
"The Lee University women's soccer program is one of the best in the country, and it has been a fixture on the national level. We will begin a national search immediately to find the right person to continue that history of success," the Lee AD concluded.
 
A 2009 graduate of Lee University, Hennessey was a defender for the Lee men's soccer team from 2006-09. He met his wife, Jenae, while attending Lee. The couple are parents to two daughters, Emory Blake and Sutton Elizabeth, and one son, Brewer.