FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WORCESTER, Mass. – Assumption Director of Athletics Jamie Marcoux is pleased to announce the hiring of Chris Payne as the head coach of the Assumption men's soccer program. Payne has over 20 years of college and club coaching experience, including nine in the Northeast 10 Conference.
"We are excited to welcome Chris to Assumption College," said Marcoux. "He played at the highest levels of college soccer and also brings over 20 total years of coaching experience at the college and club level. Chris understands what it takes to create a successful program and is committed to developing the whole student-athlete, encompassing excellence in athletics, academics and the community."
Payne has spent the past 12 years coaching at the club level and most recently worked as the Director of Coaching with the Boston Bolts. Prior to his work as a club coach, he served as the head men's soccer coach at the University of New Haven from 2001-2004. As a player, Payne won a pair of NCAA Division II National Championships at Southern Connecticut State University in 1990 and 1992. He then moved into an assistant coach role where he helped the Owls win three more NCAA Division II Titles before departing for New Haven.
"I am very excited about this opportunity to be the men's soccer head coach at Assumption College," said Payne. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics Jamie Marcoux and the rest of the search committee for giving me this amazing opportunity. I look forward to developing strong, positive student-athletes as well as share my experiences and training over the last 25 years in the soccer community. I will do my best to help this team succeed and accomplish their goals, both on and off the field."
Since 2012, Payne has served as the Director of Coaching with the Boston Bolts. Among his numerous duties, he was a head coach and assistant coach of the Bolts' USSF Academic Teams, as well as coaching with the Bolts' PDL team. Payne also worked with the U10-U19 age groups, as he organized and planned game schedules and training schedules for the club's more than 60 teams. Payne previously served as the technical director for Western United FC in Springfield, Mass. from 2010-12. He moved back to New England after working for six years as a technical director at a pair of club programs in Texas, spending 2005-08 with the West Texas United Soccer Club and 2008-10 with the Dallas Texans.
Payne was a four-year standout with Southern Connecticut State, playing from 1990-93 with the Owls and finishing his career with 23 goals. As a freshman, his team went 22-0-1 on the way to the NCAA Division II Championship. Two years later the Owls won a second national championship, and as a senior the Owls fell in the national title game.
Following graduation, Payne moved to the sidelines from 1995-2000. Over his six seasons as an assistant, Southern Connecticut State won three more NCAA Division II Championships, including a perfect 20-0-0 season in 1999, and reached the national semifinals on two other occasions. After the 2000 season, Payne took the head coach position at the University of New Haven. He coached the Chargers from 2001-04 and over his final two seasons, the team 9-9 in conference play and 15-21 overall.
Payne holds both a United States Soccer Federation "B" License and "C" License, as well as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Director of Coaching Diploma. He also is a member of the NSCAA, United States Soccer Coaches Association and F.A. Coaches Association. Payne currently is married with three children and resides in Southborough, Massachusetts.
Payne makes his coaching debut on Sept. 1 when the Hounds host Holy Family at 5 pm in Multi-Sport Stadium.
- Information for this release provided by the athletic communications staff at Assumption
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.