Chris Royal is in his first season on the Lindenwood football coaching staff. He coaches the defensive backs, and is also the recruiting coordinator.
Royal coached the last two seasons at Glenville State, where he was the passing coordinator. He also coached running backs and slot receivers, and was the strength and conditioning coach.
The Glenville State offense averaged 37.5 points and 471.6 yards a game. The Pioneers ran for nearly 200 yards a contest and passed for 279.2 yards a game.
Royal coached two second-team all-conference wide receivers, and two of the league's top three rushers. Royal was also in charge of the kickoff return team, which ranked second in the conference with 22.9 yards a return.
Royal was at Saint Louis University in 2013 as the head strength coach for 16 Olympic sports. He was responsible for designing and implementing sport-specific programs for various teams as well as assisting in all other aspects of student-athlete performance. He originally came to Saint Louis as the strength and conditioning graduate assistant for men's and women's basketball.
Prior to his arrival at Saint Louis, Royal spent time as a strength and conditioning intern at the University of Maryland College Park. While at Maryland, he helped the strength and conditioning staff with all aspects of the athletic performance. Royal arrived at Maryland from the Milwaukee Mustangs of the Arena Football League, where he served as a Defensive Back and Coaching Assistant in 2012. He served as assistant receivers coach at Marshall on Coach Doc Holliday’s staff from 2011-2012. While at his alma mater, Royal assisted in the development of 2013 NFL 2nd Round Draft Pick (New England Patriots) Aaron Dobson as well as 2013 New York Jets Signee Antavious Wilson as well as the 2013 national leader in receptions, Thomas Shuler.
Royal played Free Safety at Marshall University and was second in the country for interceptions as a junior. He was invited to camp as an undrafted Free Agent with the Washington Redskins of the NFL in 2006. Royal went on to play eight years in the Arena Football League, breaking the league record for interceptions his rookie season in 2007 while also leading the league in interception return yards and interception returns for a touchdown. While playing professionally, Royal had four playoff appearances and played in two championship games. He currently holds two franchise records for interceptions (Tulsa, Wilkes-Barre).
Royal’s first coaching stint was at South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia where he coached Quarterbacks in 2007.
Royal earned a bachelor's degree at Marshall University in 2011 and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree from Lindenwood University-St. Charles.
Royal has been a project coordinator for the United Way of Greater St. Louis for the past nine years and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. He is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, and is a Certified Level 1 Sport Performance Coach.
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