Chris Hennessey was named the sixth head coach in University of South Alabama women’s soccer history on December 15, 2023. In his first season leading the Jaguars, he guided the program to a 10-6-3 overall record and a 5-2-3 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. South Alabama captured the Sun Belt West Division title and earned the No. 2 seed in the 2024 Sun Belt Tournament. Under his leadership, Irene Campo was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and earned United Soccer Coaches All-America honors, while Campo and Kate Nicolson both received all-conference recognition. Hennessey’s immediate impact established a strong competitive foundation and reaffirmed the program’s standing within the conference.
Prior to arriving in Mobile, Hennessey spent nine seasons as head coach at Lee University, compiling a 130-31-21 record and leading the Lady Flames to eight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. His tenure included two Sweet Sixteen appearances and a Final Four run in 2018, along with multiple Gulf South Conference regular-season and tournament titles. In 2021, he was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year after a 19-0-1 campaign, and his staff earned United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year honors. A native of Manchester, England, Hennessey graduated from Lee University in 2009 after playing collegiately as a defender. He and his wife, Jenae, have three children.
