Page 5 - Winter 2017 | Rochester Athletics | University of Rochester

Chris Apple is no stranger to soccer success.
In his 17 years at the University of Rochester, his teams have won four Eastern College
Athletic Conference championships, fi ve University Athletic Association championships,
and made 11 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) appearances. This past fall, the
team advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA tournament for the second time in school history,
while earning the program’s third top 10 fi nal national ranking.

After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University,
Apple played soccer overseas for a year and then spent a year as a volunteer assistant at
Harvard University. He then coached for two seasons at North Carolina Wesleyan College
before spending fi ve years coaching at the University of Notre Dame. In addition to his
coaching role at the University, Apple is a coach educator for the United States Soccer
Federation and serves as Academy Director for Empire United, a local soccer club.

CHRIS APPLE ’92 to combine my passions for teaching and soccer at See by Anthony Doerr

1. What’s the best thing about coaching at 6. Right now I’m reading . . . All the Light We Cannot
your alma mater? I consider myself very fortunate
the school I love. That I get to play a role in a student’s
development from young man to adult is extremely 7. You are most proud of . . . the lifelong friendships
HEAD COACH, MEN’S SOCCER years is remarkable, and probably the thing I enjoy most that are forged within the context of the soccer
rewarding. To witness that process play out over four
program. When alumni return to campus and talk
about the job. about their experiences, the most rewarding part is
to hear that teammates have remained best friends
for life.
2. What’s a favorite moment from the last season?
Beating #6 Oneonta in the NCAA tournament on the road
was especially memorable. There were so many highs and 8. One thing you’d love to do but haven’t?
lows. It all culminated late in the match when senior Alex Write a novel.
DiPerna scored a great go-ahead goal. Then with a minute
left in the game, senior goalkeeper Redd Brown made a
fi ngertip save of a penalty kick to earn the dramatic victory 9. Your favorite quote and who said it?
and propel the squad to the Sweet 16. I have a quote on my desk that I read every
day from Abraham Lincoln: “I do the very
best I know how—the very best I can; and I
3. How would you describe the Rochester athlete? mean to keep on doing so until the end.”
Rochester attracts serious, self-directed, high-achieving
students and our athletes are no diff erent. They are
passionate about pursuing excellence in their studies and 10. What’s your favorite place
their sport. They also take time to be college kids and enjoy in the world? Why? It has to be
friendships and college life. Canandaigua Lake. My wife, Melissa
Sturge-Apple ’92, a psychology
professor and dean of graduate
4. What’s something about you that people would be studies in Arts, Sciences &
surprised to know? I was a German major and I studied in Engineering at Rochester,
Germany for a semester and played soccer there for a year introduced me to the lake 25
after graduation. I worked in a lead crystal factory to support years ago. Now we get to watch
my soccer habit! Even today, Germany remains my home our two boys swim, kayak, and
away from home—zweite Heimat*. build bonfi res each summer
right in Rochester’s backyard.
GEOFFREY ROUIN ‘18
*Translates to “second home”
5. Who/what inspires you? When a person or group of
people deliver something exceptional, that inspires me.

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