Chicago State University Director of Athletics
Elliott Charles announced today that Mario Felix has been named the fourth head women's soccer coach in the history of the program.
"I am excited for Coach Felix and his family as they become part of #OurChampionshipEra," Charles said. "I look forward to the competitive spirit and community involvement that Coach Felix will bring to the Women's Soccer program and CSU Athletics as a whole."
Felix joins the Cougars after two years as the associate head coach at Southern Utah University, where he helped guide the Thunderbirds to its highest single-season winning percentage (.611) and only its second winning season in school history. He was head of recruiting and oversaw training sessions and advanced scouting reports.
"I'm extremely grateful to be given the opportunity by President Scott and Director of Athletics
Elliott Charles for the privilege to lead the Chicago State University women's soccer program" Felix said. "During my time speaking with the administration at Chicago State University it became very apparent that this can become a special place. I look forward to growing my current relationships in the Chicagoland area, as well as establish a new relationship within the community at Chicago State and the Southside. After being gone for the Midwest for about five years, I'm excited to be back in the area and excited to help build this program."
Prior to his time in Cedar City, Utah, Felix served as an assistant women's soccer coach at UC Santa Barbara for two seasons (2018-20). During his time with the Gauchos, they finished both seasons in second place in the Big West and advanced to the finals of the Big West Tournament in 2018. He helped coach the top defense in the Big West and 10 Gauchos were selected to the Big West All-Conference team, including the 2019 Big West Offensive Player of the Year. During his tenure at UC Santa Barbara, the Gauchos had six student-athletes named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region team.
Felix was an assistant women's soccer coach at Westmont College for one season (2016-17) and was head of recruiting for a team that climbed as high as No. 4 in the NAIA rankings and advanced to the Elite Eight at the NAIA National Championship Tournament. The Warriors finished the season with a 16-4-2 record and a No. 6 final ranking, with three United Soccer Coaches All-Region recipients and six All-American Academic honorees.
About Chicago State
Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet. In 2021, three different CSU teams earned victories over Big Ten opponents with men's soccer beating Northwestern, women's basketball upending Wisconsin and volleyball, which established a school record 17 wins and hosted a post-season volleyball tournament for the first time in program history, swept Indiana in Bloomington.
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He began his coaching career as the head men's soccer coach at Bethel College, an NAIA school in North Newton, Kansas, and improved to four victories in his lone season (2015-16) following a one-win season in 2014-15. His team earned five All-KCAC (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) Academic Team honorees, two All-KCAC Honorable Mention awards and one NAIA National Academic Award recipient.
Felix began his collegiate soccer career as the director of operations for women's soccer at the University of Kansas (2014-15) where he assisted the head coach in the administration of all aspects of the program and in his only season with the Jayhawks, the team earned a third seed in the Big 12 Tournament and an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Felix spent time at Sporting Kaw Valley as the assistant girls academy director, was general manager at the Colorado Rush, boys club coach at the Kansas Rush Wichita (KS State Runner-Up), Colorado Rush, girls club coach at Santa Barbara Soccer Club, Kansas Rush Wichita and Utah State ODP coach.
Felix is a graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and is working toward completing a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies- Business Administration, Leadership, Professional Communication from Southern Utah University. He has a USSF National "B" License and NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 1 and 2 Diploma.
