Penn State Brandywine has added yet another women’s sport to its growing roster: soccer. The team will play locally beginning in fall 2014 and will move to an intercollegiate schedule for fall 2015. The campus just recently named Scottish professional trainer Chris Felber to lead the team as head coach.
Felber, a national licensed coach in both Scotland and America, feels confident in his ability to kick off the Brandywine women’s soccer program on a high note. “I understand what is needed to start belief in a team and how to create passion for a program,” he said. “I have learned and improved with every team I have (coached) and I will continue to learn and pass all I know on to those who come into the program.”
Felber said his first goal is to start a team that can be competitive and successful in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC). “I wish to create a reputation in the area for an attractive and strong team that student athletes would enjoy and want to be a part of.”
The campus is currently recruiting players for the team and Felber said he’s looking for “strong-minded individuals who are competitive and willing to improve both at soccer and in the classroom.”
A native of Scotland, Felber began coaching at age 15. He earned a degree in sports coaching and obtained coaching qualifications from the Scottish Football Association. Felber played for the Jeinfield Swifts, a semi-professional team in Perth, Scotland, and for Fair City Futsal Team. He has coached various schools and clubs in Scotland, trained the Scottish FA development and, prior to moving to America, he coached the St. Johnston Ladies Women’s team in the Scottish National Women’s League.
Since his move to America, Felber has completed and passed national licenses with both National Soccer Coaches Association of America and U.S. Youth Soccer. He is the director of coaching at Towamencin Soccer Club in Lansdale and head trainer at Jamestown Sports in Newark, Del.