Santa Monica Names Chris Chown as Next Men's Volleyball Coach

Santa Monica College is proud to announce the hiring of Chris Chown as the new head coach of the storied men's volleyball program. | ORIGINAL RELEASE

Coach Chown brings a passion for the game of volleyball that has developed over many years of competing and coaching both indoors and on the beach. Most recently, he served as the SMC Women's Volleyball Assistant Coach for the 2023 season. He helped lead the team to a conference championship and a regional finals appearance in the state playoffs. Chris played an integral role in mentoring and developing WSC South Player of the Year, Mia Paulson, along with Libero of the Year, Sophia Odle, two 1st Team All-WSC South selections, and two 2nd Team All-WSC South selections.

Before coming to SMC, Coach Chris spent 7 years as the Head Women's Volleyball Coach at Providence Christian College (NAIA) - a program that he founded in 2015. He has extensive experience in fundraising, recruitment, and administration. Chris spearheaded the funding of the volleyball program, led the fundraising effort and managed the project of building a new gym and athletic facility for the college. During his final two years at Providence, he also took on the role of Assistant Athletic Director; participating in strategic planning for the athletics program and co-managing the flagship athletic fundraising event for the college, an annual golf tournament.

In 2019, Chris led the Lady Sea Beggars to the Cal Pac Championship tournament as well as the Final Four of the NCCAA Championship tournament. He was named the NCCAA West Region Coach of the Year that same season. Chris has produced nine NCCAA West All-Region student-athletes, eight Cal Pac All-Conference student-athletes, four NAIA Scholar-Athletes, three NCCAA Scholar Athletes, and the only Providence athlete to be named an All-American of any type, Abigayl Doiron, in 2019 to the NCCAA All American 2nd Team.

Chris started his coaching journey in South Los Angeles where spent 6 years as a math teacher. He coached the varsity boys and girls volleyball teams at Crenshaw High School, John C. Fremont High School, and Miguel Contreras Learning Complex. He led the Cougars and the Pathfinders Boys Volleyball teams to the schools' first-ever league championships.

Since graduating from UCLA, Coach Chris has focused his efforts on the beach - achieving a AAA rating in 2011 and again in 2021. Chris holds a Master's in Education in addition to a BA in Sociology, both from UCLA. There he played 3 years of club volleyball and reached the quarterfinals of the national tournament all three years.

Chris' wife, Amanda, is a professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and they run after their two wonderful children, Zayna and Isaiah. They love good food, art, traveling, and spending time at the beach.