On July 13, 2011 Chris Armas was named the head women's soccer coach at Adelphi University as announced by former Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics, Robert E. Hartwell. Armas is just the sixth head coach of the program and will begin his fourth season at the helm of the program.
During his third year leading the Brown and Gold, Armas managed his squad to their second straight NE-10 Championship game appearance and a berth into the NCAA Tournament. It was the 12th overall selection into the Tournament for the Panthers and first since 2007. With those efforts, Armas was recognized as the NSCAA East Region Coach of the Year as the group finished with a 14-3-4 record that included a NE-10 mark of 9-1-4. The Panthers defeated Mercy 5-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to mark the programs first victory in the big dance since 2004. Four players joined Armas on the NSCAA All-East Region list while junior goalkeeper Sam Whitney (’15) earned a spot on the Daktronics All-Region Second Team. Furthermore, two individuals were named to the NE-10 Championship All-Tournament team while eight garnered All-Conference honors. As a group, the Panthers took home a NSCAA Team Academic Award as well as a NE-10 Team Academic Excellence Award.
In his second year, Armas boasted an 11-7-3 overall record with a 6-6-3 mark in conference play. As an eighth seed, the Panthers made their fourth consecutive NE-10 Tournament appearance and stunned the top seeded, and #10 nationally ranked, Yellow Jackets of AIC in the first round. They then made NE-10 history after upsetting the fourth seeded Warriors of Merrimack in the semi-finals to become the first #8 seed to make the Championship game where they would take runner-up honors. He had three earn All-Conference honors while two were named to the All-Tournament team.
In his first year at the helm of the women's soccer program, Armas guided his team to an 8-8-1 record, 7-7-1 in Northeast-10 play and a trip to the NE-10 Conference Tournament; the team's third post-season appearance in as many years since joining the conference. Under his direction, he had two women named to the All-Conference Second team with another two earning spots on the All-Rookie Squad.
A 1994 graduate of Adelphi, Armas was a two-time All-Academic selection during his time in Garden City and a two-time All-New York state selection. During his senior season he led the Panthers in scoring with 17 points and was an All-America selection. Armas also helped Adelphi to three straight NCAA Division I Tournament appearances.
Armas has coached on the youth level with the Massapequa Soccer Club and the Albertson S.C., brings a wealth of soccer knowledge and background to the Panthers. An integral member of the 1995 U.S. Interregional Soccer League champion, Long Island Rough Riders, Armas went on to become a perennial MLS All-Star for the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Chicago Fire. He was named a member of the MLS Best XI five times and played in the MLS Cup four times, winning the trophy with the Fire in its expansion season in 1998.
A native of Brentwood, New York, Armas made 66 appearances for the U.S. National Team, retiring from competition after the 2007 MLS season to become a Fire assistant coach, before returning to Long Island to coach youth soccer in 2009.
During the fall 2013 season, Armas was selected to be part of the inaugural Hall of Fame Class of the Long Island Soccer Football League. Armas was one of 48 individuals who were honored.
He most recently taught physical education at St. Anthony's High School and coached the Albertson Under-16 team that qualified for the U.S. Soccer Developmental national playoffs.
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