Head Coach Chris 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. After coming to SMC to assist the Women’s Volleyball team in 2023, he took over as the Head Coach of the Men’s Volleyball program in the summer of 2024. Since starting at SMC, Chown has helped mentor many all-conference athletes on both the men’s and women’s teams and been a part of three conference championships between the two teams.

During his first season as Head Coach of the Men’s team, Chown led the team to a 13-9 regular season record, a conference championship, and a playoff berth. He is now amidst his second season with the Corsair Men and is looking to have another strong season.

Before coming to SMC, Coach Chris spent 7 years as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Providence Christian College (NAIA) - a program which 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.