Where Are They Now: '91 Herndon High Alum Chris Libert

In the summer of 1991, Herndon High graduate and Hornet goalkeeper Chris Libert had one dream—to play collegiate soccer. Twenty years later, he can proudly say he accomplished his dream and much more. He played goalkeeper at East Carolina University and the went on to professional minor league soccer for several years.

After 10 years of coaching experience, Libert took the helm of the Cape Fear Community College Women’s Soccer Team in Wilmington, North Carolina in 2006. He shot out of the gates to lead the Sea Devils on what proved an unprecedented streak of five straight conference championships and a stellar record of, 49-3-2.

“I was the first head coach of the program [sanctioned by the National Junior College Athletic Association] and started with no scholarship dollars,” Libert said. “We’ve won the conference championship from the day I started.”

The championship coach will enter his sixth season at CFCC this year and is proud of the progress his team has made.

“We have a better record in the off-season and preseason against Division II and III, NCAA schools and have won more than we have lost and I have basically freshmen and sophomores.”

Libert began his coaching career while in graduate school at East Carolina in 1996, coaching goalkeepers. He had played professionally in the USL for the Eastern Shore Sharks in Maryland and Coco Expos in Florida, so he networked his connections to get on staff with the Wilmington Hammerheads in 2000, where he would coach for the next six years. Finally in 2006, Libert got his big break when was hired as head coach of the CFCC women’s team.

Northern Virginia community colleges do not have athletic teams, so it is difficult for in-state students to continue their sports. However, Libert believes junior college sports, like what CFCC offers, are great opportunities for student athletes who do not receive scholarship offers from Division I or II schools.

“There is different funding and scholarships available for students," he said. “There’s a way to get out-of-state students tuition.” 

One of his more recent players did not have offers to play soccer at a four-year college. Libert recruited her and after playing for two years with him, she ended up with a scholarship at Division I, Francis Marion University in South Carolina.

During Libert’s high school varsity career at Herndon, he started at goalkeeper. The team made it far into the regional playoffs his junior year but his senior year was supposed to be Herndon’s chance to shine.

“We were actually the team to beat in the region but we left in on the table and were upset in an early round by South Lakes,” he said. “That probably left a bad taste in my mouth to this day. I tell my team that story about being upset by a rival.”

The position of goalkeeper can be an isolating one and the Herndon alum says it can feel like being alone on an island.

“It is like being a [field goal] kicker. You can make one or two mistakes and it is 2-0 on the scoreboard. When you are a player in the field you can make several mistakes and nobody sees them,” Libert said. “If you win or have a shutout, everyone will congratulate you but they will also be the first one to let you know you made the mistakes. It is a very lonely position.”

Yet, the majority of his time at HHS was extraordinary for Libert.  “I go to a lot of high school games and see things that bring back memories. Herndon was something special. It was almost like a family—there was no place like it back in the day.”

Libert held high respect for both his high school coach Scott Mack and principal Dale Sander. He has great relationship with each of them and they all keep in touch. Libert gives a great deal of credit Mack and Sander for mentoring him to become the man he is today.

“I didn’t have a lot of opportunities and was gracious enough to play division one right out of high school with help from Coach Mack,” he said. “Both of those men were instrumental in my success.”

The former pupil and coach switched roles when Libert invited Mack to a game while in Maryland recently. He surprised Mack by inviting him, over the PA, onto the bench with the team to be his honorary assistant coach for the game.

“He was my assistant coach for the day,” he said. “We ended up tying, so he is technically an undefeated coach in the NJCAA. To have him there was awesome.”

Mack says Libert was a great player while at Herndon and always spread a positive attitude to the rest of the team.

“He just flat enjoys life and loves the people around him. His energy is contagious. Plus, he has a great sense of humor,” Mack said. “Once, during the game I was watching, he started waving both arms. The official and linesmen came over to see what was wrong and he said, ‘Nothing, I was just waving to my mother. She's right over there. Hi Mom!’ But maybe, just maybe, he was letting things on the field settle down.”

Libert says he misses Herndon and makes a trip back to town each Christmas and has a special ritual he does during each visit.

“Whether it is 20 degrees out or a nice day I always take a trip out to [Herndon High’s] field,” he said. “I walk through the same gate that I did 20 years ago as a senior and the logo of Herndon is still as true. It’s like the feeling of ‘Friday Night Lights.’”

Libert remains close with several of his former HHS teammates, including one of his best friends Jason O'Keefe from Herndon and believes he was fortunate to grow up in such a friendly, tight-knit town.

“I feel blessed that I can talk to a few teammates that are still in the game and those that are not, we talk about the glory days at Herndon. I feel like we were a fraternity.”

After his coaching career has ended, Libert would like to pursue a career in sports broadcasting, which he has experience with at CFCC. But he still has many years ahead of him and has turned down opportunities to explore coaching at Division I schools because of the love he has for CFCC and the town of Wilmington.

“I’m happy with where they live. I believe in this program and I’m not one of those guys to chase the ranks of division,” he said. “I have a little niche in my town where I’m involved with a lot of different sports and I hope to be one of those guys that is at one institution with 800 wins.”

For information on Cape Fear Community college, visit: http://www.goseadevils.com/