Chris Berena
March 2010
» Elite Soccer Staff Coach
» U.S.S.F. National 'B' License
» U10 Boys Aces Academy Gold
» U12 Girls Aces Academy Red
» Multiple other teams, camps, and programs
» Staff Bio Page |
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How long have you been coaching with Elite Soccer?
I started my club coaching career with Elite Soccer in 2004-2005 before moving to Georgia. I recently moved back to Chicago in August of 2009 and rejoined the staff to begin my second year with them.
What other job do you currently hold?
My other job is Scrappy Music and Apparel Company. I started the business with my former college teammate and friend in Atlanta, GA in 2005. After much learning we experienced great growth which allowed me to move back to Chicago and expand our services into the Midwest. We specialize in screen printing t-shirts other types of apparel, embroidery, vinyl banners, stickers, flyers, and posters for musicians, schools, businesses, organizations, and soccer clubs. We even do the shirts for Elite Soccer. You can find a link to our site on the Soccer Links page. Feel free to reach out if you need help with anything we provide.
What is your favorite part of coaching with Elite Soccer?
The staff and philosophy of the program is fantastic. Elite provides a great environment for players, coaches, and families to learn and love the game. Their ELM tree philosophy has helped me to develop as a coach and as a result my players are growing as well. On and off the field I find that the families and players of teams I work with provide great support for me as a coach and their children.
What is your favorite part of coaching youth players?
There is nothing better than telling the players they can do anything with the ball and themselves, having them believe it, and watching them experiment with their skills at practice and on game day. This not only tells me that they bought into the notion that they can make themselves better with work and practice, but that their confidence is growing as well.
Where were you born?
Chicago, IL
Where did you grow up and what high school did you attend?
I moved to Schaumburg when I was 5 years old. I also attended Schaumburg High School. Go Saxons!
Where did you go to college, and what was your degree in?
I was a West Virginia University Mountaineer from 2000-2002 and majored in journalism. In the fall of 02 I transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago and earned a degree in communications.
Soccer playing experience (include any honor/accolades received)-
Youth-
USA of Illinois, Eclipse Soccer Club, Windy City FC, and Chicago Magic Sockers FC
U14 Illinois State Cup Runner up w/ Eclipse Soccer
U18 Illinois State Cup Champion with Windy City FC, 3rd place Region 2, Capital Cup Showcase Champions
U19 Illinois State Cup Champion with Chicago Magic Sockers FC
High School-
Schaumburg High School
Mid Suburban League All Conference 97-99
All Sectional 98-99
IL ODP player 96-2000
College-
West Virginia University 2000-2002
University of Illinois at Chicago 2002-2004 –University of Memphis All Tournament Team 2003-04
Pro-
PDL Chicago Fire Reserves, Midwest PDL League Champions
Other-
3v3 regional and national champions when I was a freshman and sophomore in high school
What position did you play?
Center midfield for club, high school, and college. Outside back and midfield for ODP and PDL.
What other coaching experience do you have?
My first coaching experience was coaching the 3-9 year age group Mark Miller’s Munchkin Programs as a program director. While in Atlanta I was a program director for Soccer in the Streets, a nonprofit organization for under privileged children in the Atlanta public school system for 3 years. I also coached for the Roswell Santos during my time in Atlanta. I coached the U10-U16. In 2009 my U12 Girls won the Academy State Cup Championship.
What is your best soccer memory?
I have 2. My best soccer memory is winning the IL state cup championship for the first time. We won 5-4 after my center midfield companion Jordan Smith got sent off with a red card 10 minutes into the game. Unbelievable match. My second is being awarded an athletic and academic college scholarship to WVU and UIC.
What is the best soccer game you’ve ever seen?
Turkey vs. the Czech Republic in the Euro 2008 championships. I believe Turkey was down 2-0 at half time and came back against the heavily favored Czech team to win 3-2. I am not even a fan of Turkey, but I could not help cheering for them. They tied it up on a routine cross that was dropped by GK Peter Cech (one of the best in the world) and went ahead 3-2 on a great top shelf finish. Even though I was sitting on my couch I could feel the energy and it was amazing. The way that game played out was a testament that anything can happen in the game of soccer and a perfect example of why it is the greatest game in the world.
If you couldn’t play soccer, what sport would you like to be good at?
Not sure. Football so I could hit people or baseball so I didn’t have to run a lot.
What is your favorite pro soccer team or player?
Team: Barcelona
Player: Gerrard from Liverpool
What made you get into coaching?
I love the game, my time as a player has passed, and I want to encourage the growth of the sport and its players by sharing my knowledge.
What is your favorite:
Movie? Kung Fu Panda at the moment
Food? Pizza
Book? Lucky or Smart
Restaurant? Lou Malnati’s
Sports Team? Chicago Bears
What is the most interesting place you have ever lived?
I lived in LA for a summer. Sunny all the time, no rain, very interesting.
What is the coolest place you have ever visited?
Iceland. There was nothing there except mountains, water, and snow when I was there. All the towns are on a circle road around the country because the middle is so barren no one can live there. The people were very nice and some locals actually let me sleep on their couch so I didn’t have to pay for a hotel. Almost all of their power is geo thermal and there hot springs that you can swim in throughout the island. On the weekends they party from 2am-10am and on the weekdays everyone is in by 10:30. There was only like 6 hours of sunlight when I was there and no darkness at all in the summer.
What is one place you want to visit?
The Philippines. My father was born and raised there and I am still yet to go. Someday
Do you have any pets?
My parents now take care of my dog C.C. She is a mix of German Sheppard and Husky. I am also getting some fish this month.
What other jobs have you held?
Server, Bartender, Party Host, Kay Bee Toys clerk, Steve Madden shoes salesman, ergonomic office furniture sales rep for Humanscale, soccer referee.
If you could be any superhero, which superhero would you be and why?
Superman, he can fly.
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
Hip hop is my favorite followed by classic rock
If you could make up a team name and/or mascot, what would it be and why?
I have been attacked by a squirrel once and it was not pleasant. On a second occasion one jumped in my car while I was napping and scared the heck out of me. I shutter every time I think of those two incidents. I am now scared of squirrels and would personally be intimidated if I played a team full of players who had the same attitude as those two evil squirrels.
What was your favorite subject in school?
Gym
Tell us about your family:
My parents supported me in everything I did and managed to keep me on a straight path through multiple groundings. They realized I loved the game of soccer and poured countless hours and amounts of money to help me grow as a player. They are happily married and still live in Schaumburg. Love those two. I have two younger sisters. One recently got her masters in Psychology from Roosevelt University and the other is in the process of getting her masters in Engineering from University of Illinois. We are very tight knit and look to each other for support. I also live with my girlfriend and she has inspired me to do well and get better every day. She is currently enrolled in a PhD program at UIC for Cognitive Psychology.
Did anything funny and/or embarrassing ever happen to you while playing soccer?
I got injured during a game at Cal Poly while playing for UIC and our coach got a red card the same game. We did not have an assistant coach at that point in time so our liaison and I had to coach the next game at San Francisco University. That was the first game I ever coached and we lost 2-0.
If you could be another Elite Soccer trainer for a day, who would you be and why?
Stein Garcia. It would be the easiest transition for me because we are both short and Filipino.
What is your best Elite Soccer memory?
The best memory I have is the face Josh Mahalek made when I told him his play on the field showed he had been working on his skills at home. It was a kind of really? face followed by a big smile. After that I only anticipate that he will work harder. It was great to see that sort of reaction in a young player.
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