HIRAM, Ohio - February 25, 2021 – Hiram College Director of Athletics Todd W. Hibbs announced on Thursday the appointment of Chris Payne as the 12th head coach of the Hiram Terriers men's soccer program. Payne joins the Terriers from Assumption University in Worcester, Mass., where he served as the head men's soccer coach for the past three years.
"Throughout his entire career, Chris Payne has been a part of a championship culture. From winning multiple NCAA championships as a player and then as a coach, to recently re-building a program and taking it to the NCAA Tournament in a short time; Coach Payne has demonstrated that he knows what it takes to win at the highest levels," Director of Athletics Todd Hibbs said. "We already know where he's going to take our men's soccer program and we cannot wait to get started."
Over his two seasons with the Greyhounds, Payne coached Assumption to their first-ever Northeast-10 Conference title, NCAA Division II Tournament appearance and NCAA Tournament win in 2019, and a 21-15-2 overall record. Under Payne's tutelage, the Greyhounds went 13-8 in 2019, winning the NE-10 and defeating West Chester, 2-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"I would like to thank Todd Hibbs for the opportunity to take over the men's soccer program at this time in its development, Michael Cracas and the rest of the search committee who made me feel so comfortable through the interview process, as well as the entire athletic staff who've already made me feel so welcome and part of the Hiram Athletics family," Payne said. "I look forward to getting out on the field as soon as possible with the current group of players and setting the standards for them going forward to bring new success to the program."
Payne's 2019 squad also tied the program record for single-season wins, set the program record for the longest winning streak with six consecutive wins, and made back-to-back NE10 Tournament appearances for the first time in school history.
In his first season with the program in 2018, Payne helped the Greyhounds to their first winning season and the most single-season wins in program history since 2009, as well as their highest conference finish since 2000. Additionally, Payne coached the first all-region selection in program history.
In total over his two seasons with the Greyhounds, Payne coached nine NE10 All-Conference honorees, including the 2019 NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year, and four NCAA Division II All-East Region selections.
Since 2012, Payne has also worked as the Director of Coaching for the Boston Bolts in Boston, Mass., coaching the Boys Elite Clubs National League and the United States Soccer Federation Academy teams and serving as the administrator for the Bolts' United Soccer Leagues Second Division team.
Prior to joining the Bolts, Payne spent two years as the Technical Director and Director of Coaching at Western United FC in Springfield, Mass., serving as the head coach of men's and women's Super-20 teams while overseeing the staffing, training and scheduling for all boy's and girl's teams from U10-U18.
Previously, Payne served as the Technical Director for the Dallas Texans in Midland, Texas from 2008-10, coaching the Boys 98, Boys 93 and Girls 96 teams, as well as helping plan, organize and run practices for the boys' and girls' teams from 99s through 00s. As head coach of the Boys 98s, Payne won the 2009-10 Spring League and were qualified tournament champions in the Dallas Classic League, while Payne won the Arlington D1 League and the Dallas Classic League D3 with the Boys 93s in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Prior to joining the Texans, Payne worked as the Technical Director at West Texas United Soccer Club in Midland, Texas, helping plan, organize and run team practices for boys' and girls' teams from 96s thru 88s, and serving as the head coach of four different squads, the Boys 89s, Boys 92s, Girls 88s and Girls 96s.
In 2005, Payne coached the Boys 92s to a Fall League Championship in the Arlington D2 and a Spring League Championship in the Arlington D1, while in 2005-06, Payne coached the Boys 89s to a third-place finish in the Dallas Classic League D2 and a second-place finish in the Fall Classic League D2.
Prior to joining the West Texas Soccer Club, Payne served as the head men's soccer coach at the University of New Haven in New Haven, Conn. from 2001-04.
Payne began his collegiate soccer coaching career at his alma mater, Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn. in 1995. Payne spent seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Owls, helping Southern Connecticut win three NCAA Division II Championships, including a perfect 20-0-0 season in 1999, and two more national semifinals.
A 1996 graduate of Southern Connecticut, Payne was a standout men's soccer player in New Haven, notching 23 goals over his four-year career and helping the Owls to two NCAA Division II National Championships and three National Championship games.
A member of the United States Soccer Coaches Association, Payne holds both a United States Soccer Federation "B" License and "C" License, as well as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Director of Coaching Diploma.
Payne graduated with his bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure studies from Southern Connecticut State University in 1996.
