HEAD COACH CHRIS PHELPS

 

In December of 2000, Chris Phelps was named the 21st head football coach in the modern history of the sport at St. Lawrence University. A 1991 graduate of the University, Phelps has been greeted by wide changes since his playing days with the completion of Leckonby Stadium in the summer of 2000 and Newell Field House, which houses a state-of-the-art fitness center, in the fall of 2001.

The varsity receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of New Hampshire prior to coming to St. Lawrence, Phelps returned to his alma mater with an impressive coaching resume which includes the head football coaching position at Siena College in 1999-2000, plus experience as an assistant at Hobart College and the University at Albany.

A native of Laconia, N.H., Phelps was a four-year starter at St. Lawrence and still holds the career total offense record with 4,944 yards. He was ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1987 when he passed for 926 yards and rushed for 322, accounting for 1,248 yards and 12 touchdowns. He passed for 1,232 yards and 13 scores and accounted for 1,590 total yards, an average of 176.7 yards per game as a sophomore. The 1991 graduate enjoyed his best season as a junior, throwing for 1,537 yards and 1,736 total yards while having a part in 19 touchdowns. He was Saint captain in both his junior and senior seasons and was a cum laude graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in history and education.

Following his graduation, he joined the staff at the University at Albany as a junior varsity quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator and served as varsity receivers coach in 1992. He earned his master’s degree at Albany in 1993. Phelps then joined the staff at the University of New Hampshire and was running backs coach in 1993 and receivers coach and assistant recruiting coordinator in 1994. He then moved to Hobart College, where he was quarterback and wide receivers coach from 1995-98, offensive coordinator from 1996-99, and recruiting coordinator from 1995-99. He coached Division I-AA Siena in 1999 before returning to the University of New Hampshire for the 2000 season.

Phelps now resides in Canton with his wife, Kim, and their daughter, Bailey (12), and son Ryan (9).