Kris Bertsch enters his fourth season as the Lindenwood men's soccer head coach during the spring of 2026. Bertsch was hired on January 11, 2023 and just completed his third season at Lindenwood.
In year three, Bertsch led the Lions to an overall record of 14-3-4 and captured Lindenwood's first regular season and postseason championships in the Division I era. The 14 wins ranked tied for third in the country and was the most wins in a single season for Lindenwood since 2013 when they won 18 games as members of the MIAA at the Division II level. The 2025 season marked the first time since 2013 that the Lions have won an outright regular season championship after winning back-to-back regular season titles in 2012 and 2013. LU also became the first team in Lindenwood’s school history to make an NCAA Division I National Tournament after defeating Houston Christian in the OVC Championship Game via Penalty Kicks 4-2. The Lions went on to face Kansas City in the first round of the NCAA Tournament where they fell by a score of 1-0.
The Lions ranked tied for third in all of the NCAA in 2025 with 12 total shutouts, trailing only Princeton (13) and NC State (14). Their 12 shutouts is the most by any OVC team in the history of the league. They also ranked tied for fourth in the NCAA in goal differential with a +31. LU averaged two goals per game while allowing 0.52 goals per game in 2025. Lindenwood received votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll in back-to-back weeks on September 9 (3 votes) and 16 (1 vote). This marks the first time that Lindenwood has appeared in the National polls and received votes for Men's soccer since the start of the Division I era. LU ranked in the top 10 of the North Region in the United Soccer Coaches Poll all season long in 2025 with their highest ranking being 4th. They held the number four spot for four weeks in a row from September 9-30.
Bertsch was named the OVC Coach of the year in 2025, and has improved Lindenwood’s season win total in each of his first three years as a head coach, winning 14 games in 2025 compared to 11 in 2024. In 2023, Bertsch won seven games in his first season as a head coach. Lindenwood had 133 points offensively in 2025, their most in a single season since 2016 (147). Midfielder Matteo Landais finished the season tied for sixth in the country in total assists with nine. The 133 points ranked 11th best in the country. Bertsch also coached seven different players from the 2025 squad that were named to the OVC All-Conference teams. Leandro Haesler, Luca Bartoni, and Matteo Landais were named to the All-OVC First Team, while Gavin Roberts and Ethan Blake were named to the All-OVC Second Team. Haelser and Bartoni were also included on the 2025 All-OVC Newcomer Team along with Alander Soares and Gavin Csiszar. Bartoni and Haesler were named the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Forward and Defender of the Year. Bartoni scored two goals and led the league in assists with four during conference play, while Haesler ranked first among defenders in the OVC with 10 total points on the season, and anchored a defense that recorded 12 shutouts during the 2025 campaign.
During his second season at the helm, Bertsch posted an 11-6-3 overall record including a 6-2-2 Ohio Valley Conference record which was good for second in the league. This marked a four-match improvement from year one to year two under Bertsch.
As a team, Lindenwood averaged 1.95 goals per game and had 39 total goals which was the most during LU's Division I era and most since the 2016 season. Under Bertsch, Lindenwood had the most goals scored in the OVC and the most assists with 40 this season. Lindenwood's eight shutouts were also the most in a single season since 2012.
Bertsch coached five All-OVC Selections including Ethan Blake and Noe Bijou who earned All-OVC First Team Honors. Goalkeeper Enzo Gil, Forward John Gates and Defender Cameron Caldwell also earned All-OVC Second Team Honors. Gates was also selected to the All-OVC newcomer team.
Lindenwood made the OVC Semifinals for the second consecutive season and also marked the second time under Bertsch that the Lions had won a post-season match. At Lindenwood, this was the first time a team has won a post season match in back-to-back seasons since 2013-14. During the 2024 season, LU's seven unbeaten streak was the 12th longest in the nation.
Bertsch took care of business at home posting a record of 6-2-0 at Hunter Stadium. Lindenwood won all six of their conference matches by a shutout result. LU also had their first three-match win streak in the Division I era. Their seven goals scored in a victory over Southern Indiana was also the most against a Division I opponent in program history.
Earlier in the season, Lindenwood beat an undefeated Evansville team, who was 4-0-0 at the time, by a final score of 3-2. Evansville would eventually go on to win the Missouri Valley Conference and compete in the NCAA Tournament. Bertsch in his second season had the Lions reach their highest RPI ranking in program history and had the 34th ranked 2024 Recruiting Class (2nd consecutive Nationally Ranked class).
In his first season, Bertsch helped the Lions immediately improve from their first Division I season as he led them to a 7-7-6 record, a four match win improvement from the previous season. Bertsch posted a 3-3-4 record in OVC matches, good for fourth in the OVC. This marked the inaugural season for OVC men's soccer. Heading into the OVC quarterfinals match, Bertsch's squad defeated Chicago State 2-0 to advance to the semifinals before losing to eventual OVC champions SIUE.
Under Bertsch's guidance, Lindenwood had five Lions earn all-conference honors including first-team selection Ethan Blake. Noe Bijou, Cooper Wilson and Matteo Boasso also made second team while goalie Enzo Gil was named to the All-Freshman team. Lindenwood had the second most all-conference selection with five.
During the season, Lindenwood was ranked four times in the United Soccer Coaches Top 10 Poll for the North Region. Through weeks 7-11, the Lions were ranked has high has nine. This also marked the first ever ranking for the program in the USC North Region Poll.
Lindenwood's defense during the 2023 season was second best in the conference in terms of goals allowed per game (1.20). In 20 matches, Lindenwood allowed just 24 goals also the second lowest in the OVC. Bertch's team during his first season posted six shutouts which was the most by a Lindenwood team since the 2021 season.
Bertsch registered his first win as a head coach against Southwest Baptist by a final score of 3-0 (Aug. 30). He then defeated Southern Indiana 1-0 at Hunter Stadium for his first conference win (10/1).
Bertsch came to Lindenwood after spending five seasons at Saint Louis University as the top assistant coach where he helped guide the Billikens to an impressive 53-22-14 record. Individually, Bertsch has been recognized as one of the Top Assistant Coaches in the country four different times. During his time at SLU, Bertsch was a key part of a staff that rebuilt the Billiken program into a national power. Saint Louis captured back-to-back Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2021 and 2022, resulting in two-straight NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship appearances. In 2022, Bertsch and the SLU staff earned the honor as the NCAA Division I Southeast Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.
In 2021, Bertsch helped the Billikens earn a No. 2 national ranking during the season, finish undefeated in the regular season, and reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship, which was SLU’s deepest run since 2003. The Billikens concluded the year with a 16-1-4 record, and earned a top-10 nod from three reputable sources, including a No. 5 ranking from Top Drawer Soccer. After eight players signed professional contracts, SLU reloaded and defended it’s A-10 regular-season and tournament titles, and moved to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a final ranking of No. 25 in the polls.
In his five seasons at SLU, Bertsch has coached 34 all-conference selections, including the 2021 and 2022 A-10 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. A total of 15 players have earned all-region honors, and two players have earned All-American plaudits. In 2021, Bertsch coached a remarkable six players who would go on to be drafted in Major League Soccer, including three who earned MLS Generation Adidas contracts and four who were drafted in the first round. In all, 17 Billikens have earned professional soccer contracts since the 2019 season. Bertsch helped the program acquire five top-25 recruiting classes, including three ranked in the Top 10. In 2023, Bertsch and the SLU staff has earned the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.
Hired by Atlanta United FC in the summer of 2016, Bertsch was an integral part of the academy staff for two years. The academy's aim was to help provide professional pathways to MLS through on the field development. Atlanta United earned the US Soccer Developmental Academy National Championship in its first season. Bertsch assisted in helping to develop more than 25 Atlanta United players earn youth national team invitations, while the first team concluded the 2018 season as MLS Cup Champions in the club’s second season.
Bertsch’s collegiate coaching career includes stops at national powers Louisville, Xavier, Syracuse, and UConn. In all, he has more than 20 years of college coaching and playing experience, including helping to develop more than 60 collegiate players to the professional ranks. As a student-athlete and coach, Bertsch has been a part of 12 NCAA Tournament teams including advancing to at least the NCAA second round on nine occasions, the round of 16 on six occasions, and the NCAA Elite Eight twice.
Bertsch spent five seasons at Xavier, including the last three (2012-14) as Associate Head Coach. During his tenure at Xavier, the Musketeers advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times in five seasons after having never qualified for the tournament previously. In 2010, the Musketeers had the second biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I, going from 2-13-1 to 10-7-4 and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. He was part of the BIG EAST Conference's Coaching Staff of the Year in 2014, and in 2011 was tabbed the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
While at Xavier, Bertsch helped the Musketeers win their first ever A-10 Championships in 2010 and 2011, and did so by impressively knocking off the top three seeds in both seasons. Xavier qualified for the NCAA Tournament on two other occasions as at-large bids, including a run to the NCAA Third Round before losing to the eventual national champion. The Musketeers were the 10th-most winning program during Bertsch's five seasons after compiling an impressive 61-28-17 record during that time. Xavier was also ranked in the NSCAA Top 25 for 25 straight weeks during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Bertsch spent one year as an assistant at Syracuse (2009) and Louisville (2015). He also served as the Director of Soccer Operations at Connecticut for four seasons from 2005 to 2009. During that time, the Huskies compiled an astonishing 59-18-11 record and advanced to four straight NCAA Tournaments, including two NCAA Third Rounds and an NCAA Quarterfinal appearance. The Huskies won two BIG EAST Regular-Season and Tournament Championships and were ranked either the nation’s top team or the #2 team in the national polls during the course of all four of his seasons at UConn.
Bertsch was a four-year starting midfielder at American University, where he earned first-team all-conference honors. Bertsch helped lead the Eagles to a Patriot League Championship, and two NCAA Tournaments, including a second round and NCAA Third Round appearance. He graduated from American with a marketing degree in 2003.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING (January of 2023)
Kevin Kalish, Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer Head Coach
“Kris is an excellent coach who understands what it takes to win in college soccer. His incredible work ethic, passion for developing student-athletes, preparation and attention to detail are second to none. Those traits, compiled with his ability to recruit, will lead Lindenwood University to success in the very near future. He is a tremendous person, leader and man of character. I look forward to watching his teams compete for championships and thrive under his guidance.”
Michael Seabolt, Missouri State University Men’s Soccer Head Coach
“Kris is an experienced and proven coach and will make a smooth transition to program leadership. He has excelled at the Division I level everywhere he’s been and also worked at the top levels of youth soccer. He has made his home in St. Louis for the last five years and I have no doubt he can develop Lindenwood into a top NCAA Division I program.”
Tim Cupello, University of California Riverside Men’s Soccer Head Coach
“Kris has been apart of many successful college programs throughout his career. Specifically, when he arrived at Xavier, he was helping take over a bottom level NCAA Division I program. Within 10 months, Xavier was playing in the NCAA Tournament. I strongly believe his incredible ability to lead ambitious student-athletes in becoming the best version of themselves is a key ingredient to his success. He has the ability to build a level of trust with the individuals he is leading, which then allows his attention to detail to provide constructive feedback that is welcomed and applied. Lastly, with his strong recruiting ties within the St. Louis area, he is THE perfect fit as the next leader for Lindenwood.”
| Season |
University |
Overall Record |
Conference Record (Seed) |
Conference Result |
NCAA Standing |
Role |
| 2005 |
UCONN |
16-3-2 |
7-0-1 (1st) |
BIG East Regular Season & Tournament Champions |
NCAA Final 16 |
Assistant Coach |
| 2006 |
UCONN |
10-7-2 |
6-2-1 (3rd) |
BIG East Quarterfinals, NCAA At-Large Bid |
NCAA First Round |
Assistant Coach |
| 2007 |
UCONN |
20-3-1 |
8-2-1 (1st) |
BIG East Regular Season & Tournament Champions |
NCAA Elite 8 |
Assistant Coach |
| 2008 |
UCONN |
13-5-6 |
6-3-2 (3rd) |
BIG East Quarterfinals, NCAA At-Large Bid |
NCAA Final 16 |
Assistant Coach |
| 2009 |
Syracuse |
3-15-0 |
2-9-0 (8th) |
|
|
Assistant Coach |
| 2010 |
Xavier |
10-7-4 |
5-4-0 (6th) |
Atlantic 10 Tournament Champions |
NCAA First Round |
Assistant Coach |
| 2011 |
Xavier |
12-5-4 |
4-3-2 (6th) |
Atlantic 10 Tournament Champions |
NCAA First Round |
Assistant Coach |
| 2012 |
Xavier |
14-3-5 |
6-1-2 (3rd) |
NCAA At-Large Big |
NCAA Second Round |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2013 |
Xavier |
10-7-2 |
6-3-0 (3rd) |
BIG East Quarterfinals |
|
Associate Head Coach |
| 2014 |
Xavier |
15-6-3 |
6-1-2 (2nd) |
BIG East Finalists, NCAA At-Large Big |
NCAA Final 16 |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2015 |
Louisville |
7-9-3 |
1-4-3 (9th) |
#1 RPI in the Nation, ACC Quarterfinals |
|
Assistant Coach |
| 2018 |
Saint Louis |
6-4-7 |
3-1-4 (3rd) |
Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals |
|
Assistant Coach |
| 2019 |
Saint Louis |
10-7-0 |
6-2-0 (2nd) |
Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals |
|
Assistant Coach |
| 2020 |
Saint Louis |
9-5-0 |
4-2-0 (2nd) |
Atlantic 10 Semifinals |
|
Assistant Coach |
| 2021 |
Saint Louis |
16-1-4 |
8-0-0 (1st) |
Atlantic 10 Regular Season & Tournament Champions |
NCAA Elite 8 |
Assistant Coach |
| 2022 |
Saint Louis |
12-5-3 |
6-1-1 (1st) |
Atlantic 10 Regular Season & Tournament Champions |
NCAA Second Round |
Assistant Coach |
| 2023 |
Lindenwood |
7-7-6 |
3-3-4 (4th) |
OVC Semifinals |
NCAA Transition Period |
Head Coach |
| 2024 |
Lindenwood |
11-6-3 |
6-2-2 (2nd) |
OVC Semifinals |
NCAA Transition Period |
Head Coach |
| 2025 |
Lindenwood |
14-3-4 |
6-2-2 (1st) |
OVC Regular Season & Tournament Champions |
NCAA First Round |
Head Coach |
| 19 Years |
|
Overall Record |
Conference Record |
|
|
|
|
|
215-108-59 |
99-45-27 |
12 Conference Championships |
11 NCAA Tournament Appearances |
|
