Bio

Chris McHugh enters his fifth year on the sideline as head coach of Emmaus Men's Soccer in 2025.

• NCCAA DII National Champion - 2012 & 2013
• NCCAA DII National Coach of the Year - 2012
• NCCAA DII Regional Coach of the Year - 2012, 2013, 2015, 2024

Why play Emmaus Soccer?

Playing soccer at Emmaus is a once in a lifetime opportunity!  Competing alongside brothers in Christ, striving for a common goal, and asking God to lead us on that journey is an awesome experience.  We get to weave together faith and our competitive spirit, and each season the Lord shows his love for us in new ways!  Myself and our team are changed as we humbly follow Him. 

Why are you coaching at Emmaus?

It is a gift to coach at Emmaus!  I love teaching, coaching, mentoring and discipling our student-athletes.  I love that athletics are goal-oriented and unpredictable, and that the ups and downs of a soccer season stir the emotions in myself and our team. 

On that rollercoaster each season, God meets us and uses the teammates and coaches here to point one another toward Christ. 

What is a meaningful Bible verse to you?

John 17:3 – “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

In the gospel of John, Jesus' words give me a better understanding of eternal life.  Jesus says that eternal life is experienced when I personally respond to God’s love by coming to the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.  This verse makes me understand that experiencing eternal life starts now, as I pray, worship, and listening to God through his Word and through using my gifts in athletics to glorify Him. 

Coaching Experience:

• Head Coach:
  • Emmaus University, 2021-Current (3 years)
  • Moody Bible Institute, 2012-2017 (6 years)
• Assistant Coach:
  • Christopher Newport University, 2018-19 (1 year)
  • Montclair State University, 2004-05 (2 years)

Coaching Highlights:

• NCCAA DII National Coach of the Year – 2012
• NCCAA DII Regional Coach of the Year – 2012, 2013, 2015, 2024

Team Highlights:

• 2012 NCCAA DII National Champions – National Ranking #1
• 2013 NCCAA DII National Champions – National Ranking #1
• 2014 NCCAA DII – National Ranking #3
• 2014 NSCAA Team Academic Award
• 2015 NCCAA DII National Finalist – National Ranking #2
• 2016 NCCAA DII – National Ranking #9

Player Highlights:

• NCCAA DII National Player of the Year – 2012 and 2014
• NCCAA Kyle Rote Jr. Award (Athletic Excellence and Christian Testimony) – 2012 and 2014
• 12 – NCCAA DII 1 st Team All-Americans
• 6 – NCCAA DII 2nd Team All-Americans
• 13 – NCCAA DII Scholar Athletes

2024:

• MCCC - Team Sportsmanship Award, Conference MVP (Josh Matte)
• Midwest All-Region
  • 1st team - Jake Matte
  • 1st team - Josh Matte
  • 1st Team - Tucker Kapas
  • Newcomer of the Year - Jake Matte
• MCCC All-Conference
  • 1st team - Jake Matte
  • 1st team - Josh Matte
  • 1st Team - Tucker Kapas
  • 2nd Team - Bennett Kreiner
  • 2nd Team - Seth Karl

2023:

• NCCAA DII Kyle Rote Jr. Award (Game Plan 4 LIFE)
  • Josh Matte 
• North All-Region
  • 1st team - Cristian Anderson
  • 1st team - Caleb Hunter
  • 1st team - Josh Matte
  • Honorable Mention - Tucker Kapas
  • Honorable Mention - Bennett Kreiner
  • Honorable Mention - Zach Ort
• MCCC All-Conference
  • 1st team - Cristian Anderson
  • 1st team - Tucker Kapas
  • 1st team - Josh Matte
  • 2nd team - Caleb Hunter
  • 2nd team - Bennett Kreiner
  • 2nd team - Edwin Ventura-Magallon

2022:

• MCCC - 3rd place regular season and tournament finish
• North All-Region
  • 1st team - Josh Matte
• MCCC All-Conference
  • 1st team - Josh Matte
  • 1st team - Uredi Mulinga
  • 2nd team - James Baker
  • Honorable Mention - Zach Ort

2021:

• Emmaus Men's Soccer program relaunches after not competing during the 2020 season
• North All-Region
  • 1st team - Josh Matte
• MCCC All-Conference
  • 2nd team - Josh Matte
  • Honrable Meniton - Zach Ort

2020:

McHugh joined the Emmaus Athletic Department in May 2019, and became the fifth head coach in program history in 2020.

During the 2024 season, McHugh led the Eagles to a 10-7-3 overall record which included a national ranking as high as #5 at one point in the season.

In 2023, the Eagles went 6-5-3.

The 2022 season saw the Eagles go 6-8-2

During the 2021 season, following a the Covid Pandemic where the Eagles didn't have a season the previous year, the Eagles went 2-12.

McHugh brings a pedigree of success at the NCCAA DII level, and a sports ministry mindset to the Eagles soccer program. McHugh, who was head men's soccer coach at Moody Bible Institute and professor of sports ministry and lifetime fitness from 2012-2018, led the Moody Archers to back-to- back titles at the NCCAA DII National Championships in 2012 and 2013.

In all, McHugh's squads qualified for the national tournament in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. His teams won four NCCAA Reginal Championships, while taking 3rd place and 2 nd place at the national tournament in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

"My vision for the Emmaus soccer program is that our young men will know Jesus Christ more intimately, and take a posture of humility, as we commit to pursuing common goals. Emmaus Bible College is a transformational environment, rooted in the Bible, where students learn to impact the world for Christ. In both our trials and successes, we will worship Jesus Christ as Lord; Lord of our lives and of this program," shared McHugh.

"Our soccer program will work to develop and attract top student-athletes, who are committed to maximizing their God-given abilities, while learning to compete with intensity and a Spirit-led focus. As we pursue this end, my prayer is that our skills would be sharpened, our love for others would be evident, and that God would be glorified," stated McHugh.

Over 20 years of coaching, McHugh has 11-years of head coaching experience at the men's collegiate and high school boys' varsity levels. Additionally, he has been an assistant coach on staff with two nationally prominent NCAA Division III programs at Montclair State University (NJ) and Christopher Newport University (VA).

His passion for discipleship and sports ministry have inspired his teams to conduct outreach soccer clinics for the community, and motivated his work with Christ-centered sports camps. He has served internationally with Sports Across Ireland outside of Dublin, and has welcomed team chaplains on his staff to care for the personal and spiritual needs of his players.

McHugh is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Sport Management, and of Montclair State University with a master's degree and teaching certification in Physical Education and Health. McHugh holds professional certificates through the United Soccer Coaches organization with an Advanced National Diploma and Goalkeeping I and II Diplomas. Additionally, he holds the USSF "D" coaching license.

McHugh and his wife, Sara, reside in Dubuque with their two young daughters, Emsley and Adelaide.