Bio

Chris McHugh serves as the Athletic Director and Head Men's Soccer Coach at Emmaus Bible College and arrived to the Dubuque campus in 2019-20.   

• 2012 NCCAA DII / NSCAA National Coach of the Year
• 3x NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year

Why become an Emmaus Eagles student-athlete?

"Studying and competing at Emmaus Bible College is an AWESOME opportunity!  We are looking for competitors and followers of Jesus Christ, who desire to grow in their faith and prepare for their future." 

As an Emmaus Eagles athlete you will experience: 

• Become a competitor in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA Division II)
• Become a competitor in the Midwest Christian College Conference (MCCC)
• Coaching from a staff that is knowledgable, loves God, loves you, and will push you to reach your potential
• Competition against colleges of a high level, spanning various divisions: 
  • NCCAA DII
  • NCCAA DI
  • NCAA D2
  • NCAA D3
  • NJCAA
• A family-first atmosphere in your team, across the athletic deparment, and throughout your Emmaus Experience
• An alumni network who will support you in your sport, your faith, and your career-development
• #EagleImpact

  I - Identity
  M - Mentorship
  P - Perseverence
  A - Accountability
  C - Community
  T - Transformation

Emmaus Athletics - Initiatives & Timeline:

• 2022-23
  • Assistant Athletic Director/Head Men's Basketball Coach
    • A third full-time position is created in the Athletic Department to support and enhance the student-athlete experience. 
  • MCCC Sportsmanship Awards
    • Earned by both the Emmaus Women's Volleyball and Women's Basketball programs
  • NCCAA Awards
    • Anna Harwood, Emmaus women's basketball player, awarded the prestigious Michael Schisler Scholarship at the NCCAA Pro-Am Banquet
    • 5 NCCAA Student-Athlete of the Week award winners
  • Facility upgrades
    • Video stand & livestream enhancement to soccer field
    • Turf speed & agility area added to the athletics weight room
    • Team meeting room added to Pollard Fieldhouse
    • New shot clocks

• 2021-22
  • Emmaus Athletics launches a new "Eagle" logo
    • The Emmaus Logo Committee works with Drew Elrick Design to create a brand new Eagle logo and wordmark for Emmaus Athletics. 
    • The new "Eagle" aligns with and compliments the Emmaus Bible College institutional logo and branding
  • Men's & Women's Cross Country Competes in 1st Season
    • 2 runners qualify for the NCCAA National Championship Meet 
  • Emmaus Men's Basketball
    • Wins the program's first Regional Championship qualifying for the NCCAA DII National Tournament
    • Ranked #10 nationally in final season poll
  • Emmuas Men's Soccer
    • Hosts first-ever winter clinics for kids
  • Inagural annual Athletics Banquet in April 2022
    • "Eagle Impace Award" - Recognizes outstanding male and female representative in Emmaus Athletics
  • Launch of Corporate Sponsorship program 

• 2020-21
  • Men's & Women's Cross Country Programs Announced
    • Cross-country teams are added as the 5th and 6th intercollegiate sports at Emmaus, and their teams will lauch in Fall 2021. 
  • Athletic Website
    • Redesigned www.EmmausAthletics.com website and renewed contract with Presto Sports to serve as the site host and designer.   
  • Social Media
    • @EmmausAthletics social media channels are activated and utilized across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
  • Live Stream
    • Eagles athletic events are broadcast with commentators, enhanced features, and commercials on the "Emmaus Bible College Athletics" YouTube channel
  • Under Armour / BSN Apparel Agreement
    • Emmaus Athletics agrees to an apparel and equipment partnership with BSN
    • Emmaus Eagles teams begin to wear Under Armour apparel
  • Adds position of Head Athletic Performance Coach to support all athletic programs

• 2019-20
  • Assistant Athletic Director/Head Women's Basketball Coach
    • A second full-time position is created in the Athletic Department to support and enhance the student-athlete experience. 

Personal:

• Spouse: Sara McHugh
• Children names: Emsley McHugh and Adelaide McHugh
• Employer: Emmaus Bible College
• Home church: Crossroads Church
• College/s attended: University of Massachusetts Amherst (undergrad), Montclair State University (grad)
• Degree/s earned: B.S. in Sport Management, Master of Arts in Teaching (Physical Education & Health)
• Church/Community involvements: Sunday School Teacher

June 2019: Emmaus Welcomes Chris McHugh as Athletic Director

Chris McHugh has accepted the role of Athletic Director at Emmaus Bible College.

McHugh brings 17 years of experience in education and athletics, at both the collegiate and secondary school levels to Emmaus Bible College. McHugh possesses a love for Jesus Christ, a passion for serving student-athletes and coaches, and an enthusiasm for ministry to the campus and community through sports.

“I would like to thank President Boom, Dean Chavez, and the members of the hiring committee for this opportunity to serve as Athletic Director at Emmaus Bible College. It has been a pleasure to learn about Emmaus during this process, and I thoroughly enjoyed my interactions with students, faculty, and administrative staff during my visit to campus. Being part of a good team is special, and so I am honored to be joining the Eagles Team and the Emmaus Family!”

Prior to Emmaus, McHugh served as Head Men’s Soccer Coach and Assistant Professor of Lifetime Fitness and Sports Ministry at Moody Bible Institute from 2012-18. While at Moody, his soccer teams made three appearances in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II National Championship game, claiming back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

McHugh was recognized as the 2012 NSCAA/NCCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, as well as regional coach of the year on three occasions. The Moody program also produced two NSCAA/NCCAA Division II National Players of the Year during his tenure. Off the field, McHugh served as Chair for men’s soccer in the North Region for the NCCAA.

Prior to his time at Moody, McHugh was employed as a Physical Education and Health teacher in Cedar Grove, NJ, where he also coached high school soccer and basketball. Additionally, McHugh has worked in intercollegiate athletics as an assistant men’s soccer coach at Christopher Newport University and Montclair State University.

Ministry and the teaching of God’s Word have been close to McHugh’s heart as well. He has served as interim youth pastor at his local church, and has been involved in several sports camp ministries. McHugh led groups of Moody student-athletes to Arkansas to host Christian soccer camps for the community on two occasions. And he has traveled to Ireland to volunteer in camp ministry with Sports Across Ireland.

McHugh graduated with a M.A.T. in Physical Education from Montclair State University, and a bachelor's degree in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

McHugh and his wife, Sara, are the parents of two young daughters, Emsley and Adelaide.