Coaches
Chris Pfau
Head Women’s Soccer Coach
cp60@evansville.edu
(812) 488-2631
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In six seasons at the University of Evansville, the accolades speak for themselves for head coach Chris Pfau:
Former MVC Coaching Staff of the Year honoree
Led UE to its best start in program history in 2021
Ranked as high as fifth in United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region Poll in 2021
Had UE ranked in nation’s Top 15 in save percentage (2nd), goals-against average (3rd), and shutout percentage (15th) in 2020
Two trips to the MVC Tournament final
Four All-Region players
23 MVC All-Conference selections
Eight MVC All-Freshman Team members
19 Conference Players of the Week
Pfau took over the Purple Aces women's soccer program for the second time in December of 2019, after serving as head coach from 2005-07. In the first go-around at UE, Pfau orchestrated the seventh-best turn around in the country in 2005, while putting together three 10-win seasons and advancing to the MVC Tournament finals in his second season as head coach.
In Pfau’s second session as head coach, year two saw a return of UE to the MVC Tournament finals, while posting the highest victory total in nearly a decade. Pfau led Evansville to its best start in program history, while helping UE earn a regional-ranking for three-straight weeks. In fact, UE was ranked as high as fifth in the United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region poll during the 2021 season.
Pfau's first season back in white and purple saw his side put up impressive statistics on the defensive side. In the eight-match spring season, the Aces recorded five shutouts and only allowed three goals. Evansville's three goalkeepers were outstanding, each seeing time between the posts with all three recording at least one shutout.
Evansville finished inside the top three in the nation in both save percentage (.936) and goals-against average (.342) and concluded the season in 15th in NCAA DI in shutout percentage (.625). The Aces three goals allowed put them tops in The Valley in the category. Goalkeeper Michaela Till finished her fourth season at UE as one of the best goalkeepers in the nation statistically. Till ended the spring third in save percentage (.929) and fifth in goals against (.367) in the nation.
During his six total years as head coach of the Purple Aces, Pfau’s student-athletes have received numerous accolades including four All-Region players, 23 MVC All-Conference selections, eight MVC All-Freshman Team selections, 19 conference players of the week and 12 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team honorees. In 2006, Pfau and his assistants were named the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year. Overall, he has fashioned a 41-39-19 record in six seasons as head coach of the Purple Aces.
Pfau's extensive head coaching resume includes stops as head coach at Akron (2008-12) where he earned back-to-back undefeated seasons against MAC East Division foes and won the MAC East for the first time in school history, and Houston (2012-17), leading the Cougars to their first postseason berth since 2010.
He also brings a wealth of coaching experience from various avenues in the soccer field. As an assistant at Princeton from 2003 through 2005, he helped his team earn a berth in the College Cup Final Four. Prior to his that, his coaching experience includes the director of coaching for the Junior Irish Soccer Club (2002-03), head women's coach at St. Mary's College (2002-03), head men's coach at Mount Mary College (1999-02), assistant for the Cincinnati River Hawks of the A-league from 1997 through 1999 and the head coach of the Cincinnati United Soccer Club (1995-99). In his final stop before coming back to Evansville, Pfau was an assistant coach at Valparaiso from 2017-19.
Before his coaching tenure began, Pfau was a highly successful player at Old Dominion. He was a team captain, four-year starter and all-region honoree during his collegiate playing days, which spanned from 1985-89. Pfau went on to enjoy a lengthy professional playing career in the APSL, WPSL and WSL from 1989-99.
Chris and his wife, Tracey, have two children - Connor and Paige - and they reside in Evansville.
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