Chris Gnehm joined the Indiana State women’s soccer coaching staff in January 2024 as the Associate Head Coach. He comes to the Sycamores by way of Palm Beach Atlantic following a nine-year stint as the head coach with the Sailfish, as well as assistant coaching stints at Coastal Carolina, Colorado, and Florida Atlantic.

During Gnehm’s time at PBA (2014-23), the Sailfish transitioned from a D-2 Independent to a full member of the Sunshine State Conference. He also became the first Palm Beach Atlantic coach to beat all of the SSC teams during his tenure.

The Sailfish posted a record-breaking season in 2021 with a 10-5 mark, including a 7-3 record in the SSC finishing second in the conference. The team posted its highest DII national ranking at No. 16 in the 2021 season and earned their first-ever first-round bye in the SSC tournament. PBA went up to No. 6 in the South Regional Rankings during the year.

Over his tenure at PBA, the Sailfish recorded four All-Region selections, five SSC weekly awards, and three All-Conference selections.

Gnehm took the reins of the Sailfish following a two-year stint on the staff of head coach Paul Hogan at Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Before his time at CCU he also spent one season at the University of Colorado and nearly a decade on the women’s soccer coaching staff at Florida Atlantic University. 

In his first season on staff Gnehm helped guide CCU to eight more victories than the previous season while competing as a member of the Big South Conference. The 2013 campaign saw CCU reach double-digit wins while qualifying for the conference tournament for a second straight season and posting a school-record of 10 shutouts along the way. Coach Gnehm’s time with the Chanticleers also saw him help oversee 10 player selections to the Big South All-Conference teams in just two seasons.

Gnehm, who has a background in goalkeeping, played a key role in directing an excellent FAU defense from 2001-11. In 2006, the Owls led all NCAA Division I teams in shutout percentage (.762), holding opponents scoreless in 16 of 21 matches. A year later, FAU's second year in the Sun Belt Conference, the team posted nine shutouts and allowed just 15 goals.

His collegiate coaching career started at his alma mater, Averett (Va.) University, where he was an assistant coach from 1996-98. He then became the assistant coach for the men's soccer program at Monmouth (N.J.) University from 1998-99 before heading to Ferrum (Va.) College to be the head men's soccer coach as well as a women's tennis coach from 1999-2001. 

Gnehm earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1997 from Averett, where he was a four-year starter at goalkeeper and team captain from 1993-96. He still holds Averett's school record for most saves in a single season and career. He and his wife Tiffany (Reeves) were married in January 2014.