Zags Coach Chris McGaughey Added to Staff

Thursday, May 2, 2024

The Spokane Sounders and Shadow are excited to announce that Chris McGaughey will be joining the club’s coaching staff beginning with the upcoming 2024-25 season.

McGaughey, a recent 2023 addition to the Gonzaga men’s soccer staff, will be a new face in the club in 2024. Prior to joining the GU staff, the Northern Ireland native was part of the CSU Bakersfield coaching staff since 2018 and helped lead the Roadrunners to four post-season tournaments in four seasons of competition, including a trip to the Western Athletic Conference semifinals in 2019.

“I am super excited to join the club and take on the role of head coach within the DPL staff,” said McGaughey, who will guide the U19 group next season. “Having moved to the area last July from southern California, I have watched the club from a distance and have been impressed with not only the success but also the ambition that the club has moving forward. Having coached at the club level in Texas and Kansas City – and most recently serving as Advancement director with Albion Central Cal – I have had great experience with working with younger players and hope to continue to help players individually and collectively in my new role here.”

In addition to his involvement in all aspects of the coaching process, McGaughey led the CSUB Soccer mentoring program, placing current student-athletes with local organizations to drive youth engagement with the sport of soccer and reinforce the importance of education and hard work.

“I am thrilled to welcome Chris to our club for the upcoming season,” said DPL Director Bryan Hernandez. “Chris joins us by bringing on a wealth of knowledge in his coaching and professional playing career.”

McGaughey brings a breadth of experience to the program, including his collegiate playing career that began at the junior college level and concluded in the Irish Premiership. At Tyler Junior College in Texas, he was a two-time First Team All-America selection and led the Apaches to the 2012 NJCAA National Championship. He went on to play at Missouri-Kansas City for two seasons, earning team MVP honors as a senior in 2014 when he played every minute in the Kangaroo goal, posting a 1.37 goals against average and a career-best 90 saves. He finished his UMKC career with 12 victories and five clean sheets. After graduation, McGaughey spent four seasons competing for Portadown FC.