CHRIS CISSELL NAMED TO DIRECT JEWELL SOCCER PROGRAMS
"I am looking forward to the opportunity of directing both men's and women's teams," Cissell says. "We set some ambitious goals for the women's team this year, and the team members were able to exceed even their own high expectations. They played great team soccer, and the players' 'team-first' attitude was the key to our success. I hope to instill that same spirit with the men's team."
A 1994 graduate of William Jewell, Cissell led the school's women's soccer team to its first Heart of America Athletic Conference season and tournament championships this fall. Beginning the season unranked, the team finished in ninth place nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics rankings and in first place in the NAIA's Region V. The team scored an 18-2 overall season record and was 16-1 in regular season play.
Cissell was named the HAAC's Conference Coach of the Year for 2000 and 2001. He has led William Jewell to a 33-8 record over the past two seasons.
Cissell joined the Jewell faculty in 1999. He served as Youth Soccer Sales Manager for the Arrowhead Sports organization, where he developed marketing and sales strategies and directed and coordinated soccer camps, clinics, tournaments and player appearances for the Kansas City Wizards soccer team. H also served as Youth Soccer coordinator and Account Executive for the Kansas City Wizards. He is a licensed coach for the United States Soccer Federation and a state-licensed coach for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He has evaluated player talent as a Missouri Olympic Development Program Scout.
While participating in one of William Jewell's overseas study programs at Harlaxton College in England, he was a member of the semi-professional Grantham Football Club in 1993. He served as captain of Jewell's varsity soccer team in 1993-94 and was a four-year varsity starter.
Jewell's women's soccer team ranked in fourth place nationally in team goals scored per game and in seventh place nationally in team total goals scored for the 2001 season. Among other honors amassed by team members under Cissell's leadership in 2001: