By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
Growing up, Chris Lyn was a top player in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), Eastern New York Youth Soccer
Association (ENYYSA) Olympic Development Program and Regional team. He was honored as a NSCAA All-American. It was then on to the University of North Carolina, where he played for the Tar Heels in the same era that Mia Hamm was wearing Carolina blue. Chris took his playing ability and then parlayed it into becoming a top youth and college coach.
ENYYSA has announced that Lyn has been selected as their Girls Competitive Coach of the Year. On the youth level, the Highland resident is club President and Girls-Under-18 coach of the Middlepath FC of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL). He previously coached many squads in the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL) and LIJSL.
On the college level, Chris is currently the assistant coach of the Marist Red Foxes women, defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champs. He previously served as head coach of the Molloy women and as assistant coach of the women’s programs at Columbia and Iona. This past summer, he coached the Middlepath FC Under-23s to the Greater Hudson Valley Soccer League championship.
Richard Whitney, whose daughter played for Chris, wrote in his nominating letter, “I like his very honest style. He is able to give his players (and parents) very honest positive and negative feedback in a way that is not offensive and he never gives false praise. He inspires his players to do better and demand excellence within themselves. All the while, Chris is great at building the confidence of his players. However, when required, he is not afraid to admonish his players when they are not exhibiting the necessary effort.”
Mr. Whitney continued, “My daughter’s love of soccer increased dramatically after her experience playing for Chris. She made her Bronxville varsity soccer team last year as a freshman and is the starting sweeper as a sophomore. This would have never happened without her experience playing for Chris Lyn.”
Chris is now being considered for the Region 1 Girls Competitive Coach of the Year.