Cissell inks extension with Grand Canyon

After five years of success leading the Grand Canyon women's soccer program, head coach Chris Cissell agreed to a contract extension that keeps him in Phoenix for the foreseeable future.

Chris Cissell Cissell became the program's sixth head coach on Dec. 23, 2019, and has taken the Lopes to new heights in his five seasons at GCU. In the past four seasons, Cissell led GCU to a WAC regular-season title, two WAC Tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. He has been named WAC Coach of the Year twice at GCU.

"I feel very blessed and very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach and work here, and I am so thankful and grateful that President Brian Mueller, Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs and Deputy Athletic Director Nick Ojea have so much belief and confidence in me and share our vision of what our soccer family should look like," Cissell said. "I love working at GCU and my wife, Heather, and I love living in Phoenix. I love the fact that we are a Christian, faith-based university that allows us to coach and lead in a way that is important to all of us."

The Lopes have a record of 52-22-11 (.677) over the past four seasons, with a 23-7-7 record in conference play.

Cissell raised the standard for GCU women's soccer, holding the best winning percentage (.641) of any Lopes coach and sitting just five victories from becoming the winningest coach in program history.

"Coach Cissell has established a championship women's soccer program at GCU built on a positive, family culture and winning tradition," Boggs said. "He is a respected and coveted coach on the national scene and has continually shown his dedication to building a strong program at GCU. His excitement and passion for his sport and his program is infectious, and we are excited for him to continue leading our program into the future."

Cissell came to GCU after nine seasons at Kansas City, where he claimed 102 victories and won three additional WAC regular-season titles.

A strong team culture has been built and carries over annually under the direction of Cissell, who instills a team-first, family-oriented feel on and off the pitch.

With 26 years of collegiate coaching, Cissell made Phoenix home with goals to guide GCU to the next level.

"We have built something really special here in the last five years, and I am so proud of what we accomplished and so excited and extremely confident in our future here at GCU," Cissell said. "I am very excited that GCU has this confidence in me and wants me here for the foreseeable future as the leader of our awesome soccer family. I will continue to do my very best to make everyone proud, and we will continue to be a great program in all aspects."

With an impactful senior class departed after last season, Cissell replenished the roster with a talented freshman class and success in the transfer portal.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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