Chris Feifs | University of Vermont

CAREER HONORS

• 66-45 (34-13 AE) record as Head Coach

• 2023 America East Coach of the Year

• 2021 New England Coach of the Year

Chris Feifs enters his eighth year at the helm of the University of Vermont men's lacrosse program in 2024. 

In eight seasons at the helm – including the shortened 2020 campaign – Feifs ranks second all-time with 66 wins. He’s led Vermont to 34 America East wins – the most by any coach in program history. Vermont’s first two America East championships (regular season and tournament) have come in the last two seasons under Feifs.

In 2024, Vermont went 8-8, and made a trip to the conference title game. The Catamounts placed five on the America East First Team and had 11 honorees. Charlie Pope (Offensive Player of the Year) and George Egan (Goalie of the Year) earned major conference awards. Feifs’ defense gave up 10.70 goals per game during conference play which was second best and outscored league opponents by 3.9 goals per game.

In 2023, Vermont went 2-4 in non-conference play before going undefeated in conference play for the second straight season. UVM placed five student-athletes on the America East All-Conference First Team and had 12 total honorees. Feifs was honored as the America East Coach of Year for the first time in his career as well. The Catamounts defense finished ranked 10th in the country and UVM outscored league opponents by 6.1 goals per game.

 

In 2022, Vermont shook off a 2-6 start to win ten of the next 11 games en route to a second straight America East regular season and tournament championship. The Cats took down Manhattan at home fort the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win. UVM placed a conference-record nine student-athletes on the America East All-Conference First Team and had 11 total honorees. Thomas McConvey (Offensive Player of the Year) and Ryan Cornell (Defensive Player of the Year) both earned major conference awards while Tommy Burke set the program’s all-time mark for faceoffs won. Feifs’ defense ranked fifth in the country and UVM outscored league opponents by 9.7 goals per game.

 

Feifs guided the Cats to a 9-5 record in 2021 and their first-ever America East regular season and tournament championship. UVM made its debut appearance in the NCAA Tournament against Maryland – Feifs' alma mater.

 

Vermont's eight selections to the All-New England team are the most in program history and the first All-New England honorees for UVM since Ian MacKay in 2018.

Vermont held a 3-1 record before the cancelation of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. After dropping the opener at Holy Cross (Feb. 15), the Catamounts rattled off three straight wins on Virtue Field, beating Quinnipiac (Feb. 22), Merrimack (Feb. 29), and Dartmouth (Mar 7).

In 2019, Vermont finished the America East regular season with a 4-2 record for the second straight season. Vermont earned the second seed in the America East Tournament, the highest in program history. The team made its second straight trip to the America East Championship game.

Freshman David Closterman earn America East Rookie of the Year honors and a program-record eight Catamounts earn 11 All-Conference accolades. Senior Warren Jeffrey and junior Nick Washuta earned First Team All-Conference honors and five Cats earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team.

Feifs guided the Catamounts to their most successful season in program history in 2018. UVM finished with a 12-4 overall record, the first UVM squad to record 12 wins in a season. No Catamount team had recorded 10 wins over Division I opponents in program history.

The 2018 squad matched a program record with six All-Conference selections and doubled the program's All-American selections with a pair in 2018 (MacKay, Washuta). The Vermont defense finished the season seventh in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 8.06 goals per game. Sophomore Nick Washuta led the nation with a .609 save percentage and was fourth in the NCAA with a 7.72 goals against average.

Feifs led the 2018 squad to the program's second conference title game, ultimately falling to top-seeded Albany. Undefeated at home for the first time since 1994, the Catamounts held teams under 10 goals 11 different times.

In the classroom, the 2018 Catamounts finished the fall semester with the highest team GPA in program history. Washuta became the first Cat named to the America East All-Academic team since A.J. Masson in 2013.

 

In 2017, his inaugural campaign directing the Catamounts, UVM made impressive strides on the field. The Catamounts rallied from five-goal deficits to win each of their first two games and ultimately began the season 3-0 for the first time since 2001. In doing so, Feifs became the first head coach in program history to win his first three games at the helm. Following the season, freshman Ben French was placed on the America East All-Rookie Team. Defensively, Vermont caused 8.08 turnovers per game, which led America East and closed the regular season ranked 14th nationally.

 

Feifs spent seven years at Carolina as defensive coordinator and faceoff coach, leading the program to seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances. In addition to winning the national championship in 2016, the Tar Heels were two-time ACC regular season co-champions and claimed the 2013 ACC title during his tenure. In 2012, he helped faceoff specialist R.G. Keenan become the first UNC midfielder to earn First Team All-America honors since 1996.

 

Prior to his time in Chapel Hill, Feifs spent two seasons as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Virginia Military Institute. He led VMI to its first-ever MAAC Tournament and Championship Game appearances in program history, while developing the 2008 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Kevin Hill. Feifs also directed all aspects of scouting and campus visits as recruiting coordinator for the Keydets.

 

As a college athlete, the Durham native became the first scholarship athlete from North Carolina to play lacrosse at Maryland. Feifs played for the Terrapins from 2004-07, reached the NCAA Semifinals in 2005 and 2006, and was a three-time selection to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. He served as team captain as a senior and posted a career-high 19 points. Feifs was selected by the Boston Cannons in the 2007 Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft and played one season with the team.