Coaches

Chris Barrett

Chris Barrett enters his 11th year as the head coach of Belmont Abbey men's lacrosse, building the program from its early roots into a national contender. He became the third head coach in the history of the program on August 18, 2011 after serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater Limestone.


During his tenure as head coach, Barrett has led the Crusaders to a Conference Carolinas championship (2018) and their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. The next year, The Abbey earned the No. 2 seed in the South Region and hosted Indianapolis in a quarterfinal match, falling in overtime. He has seen three players earn All-America honors -- Devin Cruz in 2015 and 2016 and Adam Wiedemann in 2016. In his first year as the Crusaders' head coach, Barrett was named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year, marking the third straight time that The Abbey saw a first-year coach earn the honor.


Barrett, a native of East Islip, New York, earned his first head coaching position after spending eleven years as a member of the Saints lacrosse program, including seven as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. A 2004 graduate of Limestone and a four-year midfielder, Barrett appeared in five NCAA national championships and eleven straight NCAA semifinals as a player and coach. As a member of the Saints staff from 2005-11, Barrett helped lead Limestone to an overall record of 84-21, six conference titles and seven NCAA Division II Final Four appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2005. As recruiting coordinator, he pursued and signed 19 eventual All-Americans, 51 all-conference standouts and six North-South All-Stars.


During his tenure on staff, Barrett served as an offensive assistant working closely with the midfield position. The Saints averaged over 200 goals a season over the seven years that Barrett has been on staff.


As a Saints midfielder from 2001-04, Barrett played in four-straight NCAA National Championship games, winning the title in 2002. The Saints accumulated a perfect 35-0 conference record and an overall record of 54-10 during his career.


Barrett earned his bachelor of arts in physical education from Limestone in 2004. He and his wife, Lea Anne, reside in Gaffney with their two children, Christopher and Rylea.