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Kris Bertsch
Head Men's Soccer Coach
Kris Bertsch will enter his first season as the Lindenwood men's soccer head coach in the fall of 2023. Bertsch was hired on Janaury 11, 2023.
Bertsch comes to Lindenwood after spending five seasons at Saint Louis University as the top assistant coach where he helped guide the Billikens to an impressive 53-22-14 record. Individually, Bertsch has been recognized as one of the Top Assistant Coaches in the country four different times. During his time at SLU, Bertsch was a key part of a staff that rebuilt the Billiken program into a national power. Saint Louis captured back-to-back Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2021 and 2022, resulting in two-straight NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship appearances. In 2022, Bertsch and the SLU staff earned the honor as the NCAA Division I Southeast Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.
In 2021, Bertsch helped the Billikens earn a No. 2 national ranking during the season, finish undefeated in the regular season, and reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship, which was SLU’s deepest run since 2003. The Billikens concluded the year with a 16-1-4 record, and earned a top-10 nod from three reputable sources, including a No. 5 ranking from Top Drawer Soccer. After eight players signed professional contracts, SLU reloaded and defended it’s A-10 regular-season and tournament titles, and moved to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a final ranking of No. 25 in the polls.
In his five seasons at SLU, Bertsch has coached 34 all-conference selections, including the 2021 and 2022 A-10 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. A total of 15 players have earned all-region honors, and two players have earned All-American plaudits. In 2021, Bertsch coached a remarkable six players who would go on to be drafted in Major League Soccer, including three who earned MLS Generation Adidas contracts and four who were drafted in the first round. In all, 17 Billikens have earned professional soccer contracts since the 2019 season. Bertsch helped the program acquire five top-25 recruiting classes, including three ranked in the Top 10. In 2023, Bertsch and the SLU staff has earned the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.
Hired by Atlanta United FC in the summer of 2016, Bertsch was an integral part of the academy staff for two years. The academy's aim was to help provide professional pathways to MLS through on the field development. Atlanta United earned the US Soccer Developmental Academy National Championship in its first season. Bertsch assisted in helping to develop more than 25 Atlanta United players earn youth national team invitations, while the first team concluded the 2018 season as MLS Cup Champions in the club’s second season.
Bertsch’s collegiate coaching career includes stops at national powers Louisville, Xavier, Syracuse, and UConn. In all, he has more than 20 years of college coaching and playing experience, including helping to develop more than 60 collegiate players to the professional ranks. As a student-athlete and coach, Bertsch has been a part of 12 NCAA Tournament teams including advancing to at least the NCAA second round on nine occasions, the round of 16 on six occasions, and the NCAA Elite Eight twice.
Bertsch was a four-year starting midfielder at American University, where he earned first-team all-conference honors. Bertsch helped lead the Eagles to a Patriot League Championship, and two NCAA Tournaments, including a second round and NCAA Third Round appearance. He graduated from American with a marketing degree in 2003.
Bertsch comes to Lindenwood after spending five seasons at Saint Louis University as the top assistant coach where he helped guide the Billikens to an impressive 53-22-14 record. Individually, Bertsch has been recognized as one of the Top Assistant Coaches in the country four different times. During his time at SLU, Bertsch was a key part of a staff that rebuilt the Billiken program into a national power. Saint Louis captured back-to-back Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2021 and 2022, resulting in two-straight NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship appearances. In 2022, Bertsch and the SLU staff earned the honor as the NCAA Division I Southeast Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.
In 2021, Bertsch helped the Billikens earn a No. 2 national ranking during the season, finish undefeated in the regular season, and reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship, which was SLU’s deepest run since 2003. The Billikens concluded the year with a 16-1-4 record, and earned a top-10 nod from three reputable sources, including a No. 5 ranking from Top Drawer Soccer. After eight players signed professional contracts, SLU reloaded and defended it’s A-10 regular-season and tournament titles, and moved to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a final ranking of No. 25 in the polls.
In his five seasons at SLU, Bertsch has coached 34 all-conference selections, including the 2021 and 2022 A-10 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. A total of 15 players have earned all-region honors, and two players have earned All-American plaudits. In 2021, Bertsch coached a remarkable six players who would go on to be drafted in Major League Soccer, including three who earned MLS Generation Adidas contracts and four who were drafted in the first round. In all, 17 Billikens have earned professional soccer contracts since the 2019 season. Bertsch helped the program acquire five top-25 recruiting classes, including three ranked in the Top 10. In 2023, Bertsch and the SLU staff has earned the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.
Hired by Atlanta United FC in the summer of 2016, Bertsch was an integral part of the academy staff for two years. The academy's aim was to help provide professional pathways to MLS through on the field development. Atlanta United earned the US Soccer Developmental Academy National Championship in its first season. Bertsch assisted in helping to develop more than 25 Atlanta United players earn youth national team invitations, while the first team concluded the 2018 season as MLS Cup Champions in the club’s second season.
Bertsch’s collegiate coaching career includes stops at national powers Louisville, Xavier, Syracuse, and UConn. In all, he has more than 20 years of college coaching and playing experience, including helping to develop more than 60 collegiate players to the professional ranks. As a student-athlete and coach, Bertsch has been a part of 12 NCAA Tournament teams including advancing to at least the NCAA second round on nine occasions, the round of 16 on six occasions, and the NCAA Elite Eight twice.
Bertsch was a four-year starting midfielder at American University, where he earned first-team all-conference honors. Bertsch helped lead the Eagles to a Patriot League Championship, and two NCAA Tournaments, including a second round and NCAA Third Round appearance. He graduated from American with a marketing degree in 2003.