Chris Shaw was named head coach of the Colonials Dec. 18, 2019, and the 2023 season marks his fourth year leading RMU.
This past season, the Colonials jumped out to one of their best starts in program history. The team started out going unbeaten through the first eight games of the campaign, recording a 5-0-3 overall record. Shaw and his staff brought in an impressive class of freshmen into the program. Malia Kearns was tabbed to the #HLWSOC All-Freshman Team at the end of the season.
During his first two years at the helm, Shaw has begun retooling a program that competes in the Horizon League. During the 2021 campaign, RMU was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Team Ethics & Sportsmanship Award, earning bronze level recognition. Shaw has also been instrumental in the development of midfielder Kaoru Hayashi, who was tabbed to the 2021 All-Horizon League Second Team as well as the 2021 United Soccer North Region Third Team, and rookie Emily Rocco, who earned a spot on the 2021 All-Horizon League Freshman Team.
Prior to RMU, Shaw spent six years as the head coach at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), compiling an overall record of 66-48-9 (.573). The winningest coach in program history, Shaw was named the 2016 Mountain West Conference (MWC) Coach of the Year after leading the Rebels to an overall record of 16-4-3 (.761), including a mark of 8-1-2 (.818) in the MWC. UNLV claimed its first conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth since 2007, had a 12-match unbeaten streak during the year, the longest in program history, and also established school records for points (152), goals (51) and assists (50).
Prior to being named head coach at UNLV, Shaw spent the 2013 season as the head coach at Barton College in Wilson, N.C. The Bulldogs posted an overall record of 14-5-1 (.725), and Shaw was selected as the 2013 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year.
Shaw also spent four seasons as head coach at the University of Mount Olive in Mount Olive, N.C., from 2003 to 2007, compiling an overall record of 52-34 (.605). While leading the Trojans, Shaw orchestrated the greatest turn around in NCAA Division II history, as UMO went from 3-15 (.167) in 2003 to 20-3 (.870) in 2004. Named the 2004 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year, the Trojans produced the highest scoring offense in NCAA Division II.
Overall in 14 years as a head coach, Shaw has posted a record of 139-105-13 (.567). Shaw also spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Fresno State University (2007-09) as well four years as associate head coach at North Carolina State (2009-12).
A native of Fayetteville, N.C., earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and physical education from Methodist University in 1994. He also owns a Master of Arts degree in exercise physiology from East Carolina University, which he earned in 1997.
A 1993 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American at Methodist University, Shaw helped the Monarchs earn four consecutive Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993). Selected to the USA South Conference 50th Anniversary Team, Shaw was named to the 1993 Adidas Scholar-Athlete All-American First Team.
Shaw, who played for the Raleigh Flyers of the United Systems of Independent Soccer League (USISL) in 1994, owns a Premier Diploma from the NSCAA and an "A" level national license from U.S. Soccer. He has extensive club and Olympic development experience, as well, most recently having served as the girls director for ODP for the state of Nevada.
