Chris Ayer became the first full-time women's soccer coach in the history of the program, which was started in 1998, when he was hired in May 2006.

He was named Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year in just his second season, leading the Lady Bearcats in 2007 to their best record in school history at 13-5.

Ayer comes to Lander from Coker College, where he was the head women's soccer coach from 2002-06 and doubled as the head men's soccer coach since 2003. Ayer holds a USSF "A" license. For the past 13 summers he has served as a senior staff coach at the Ralph Lundy Soccer Academy. Ayer has served as a staff coach for the Region II ODP for the past two years.

Ayer, a native of Columbia, S.C., earned his bachelor's degree in biology from David Lipscomb (Tenn.) University and played for the Bison's soccer team.

Following his graduation from Lipscomb, Ayer spent two years as an assistant coach for his alma mater's men’s and women’s soccer teams, while earning his Master's degree in instructional leadership.

Chris is married to the former Kristen Plummer of Nashville, Tenn. and they have one son, Zachary Thomas, who was born on Sept. 3, 2008.