Chris Allen, who served as a volunteer assistant with the Billikens in 2016, is in his first season as a full-time assistant coach.   I am thrilled to have Chris join our staff as a full-time assistant coach, head coach Katie Shields said. Weve already had the privilege of working with him for a year, so we know his exceptional qualities on and off the field. His positivity and passion for Saint Louis University, our program and our student-athletes made him the obvious choice for this position.   Since his arrival at SLU, Chris has been relentless in finding ways to improve and grow every facet of our program, Shields said. I look forward to having him on board full time as we continue to educate our student-athletes, compete for and win championships on the field, and grow our presence in the community.   I feel incredibly blessed and am so grateful to be given this opportunity, Allen said. After spending last year as a volunteer assistant, I have grown to appreciate just how special SLU and the Billiken women's soccer program are. To be able to join the Billiken family in a full-time capacity is a dream come true.   Prior to his one-year stint as a SLU volunteer assistant, Allen spent nine seasons as girls soccer head coach at Webster Groves High School.   Allen transformed Webster Groves into a perennial power in Missouri. During his tenure, the Statesmen achieved a No. 4 national ranking and finished third in the Class 3 state tournament in 2015; enjoyed six 20-win seasons; won numerous conference and tournament titles; and produced more than 30 players who went on to compete at the collegiate level. Allen tallied a 164-71-5 record at the helm.   Allen was tabbed Missouri Class 3 Regional Coach of the Year the past two seasons and was selected to coach in the 2015 Missouri Athletic Club High School Soccer All-Star Game. He garnered five conference Coach of the Year awards.   Allen spent two seasons as boys head coach at Gonzaga Prep and one season as girls head coach at Mead High School, both located in Spokane, Washington. He served as an assistant coach of boys teams at Webster Groves (six seasons), Rockwood Summit (two seasons) and Gonzaga Prep (two seasons). Allen was a girls assistant coach at Webster Groves (one season) and Gonzaga Prep (two seasons).   Also the technical director of Four Rivers Futbol Club in Union, Missouri, Allen was a three-year starter at Kirkwood High School before playing one season at Calvin College, where he earned second-team All-Conference plaudits. He transferred to Truman State and graduated with a bachelors degree in exercise science/sports management in 2002.