Bellarmine University Athletics

Prominent goalkeeping instructor Chris Cahill, a former star player at the University of Notre Dame and assistant at Harvard University, joined the Bellarmine University men’s and women’s soccer staffs as an assistant in 2014.

Cahill’s name in Louisville is synonymous with goalkeeping. He is the Director of Goalkeeping for the Kentucky Fire Juniors and is responsible for evaluating, training and mentoring more than 60 goalkeepers ranging in age from 9 to 18.

Cahill is also the Managing Trainer of Bright Lights Goalkeeping. Through Bright Lights, Cahill trains goalkeepers for several leading college and high school programs, including Bellarmine, Spalding University and Hanover College as well as prep programs Trinity, Ballard, Floyd Central (Ind.) and Atherton.

In addition, Cahill is an experienced camp instructor at the national level, having led goalkeeping instruction for elite college programs, including Notre Dame, Georgetown University, Dartmouth College and Harvard.

Cahill served as an assistant coach at Harvard from 2008-2010, where he helped guide the Crimson to a 26-10-1 record over two seasons, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2009. Also in 2009, Harvard won the Ivy League title and tied its highest national ranking in school history (No. 6).

Prior to his coaching career, Cahill was a standout goalkeeper at Notre Dame (2003-2007) under renowned head coach Bobby Clark. A three-year starter and two-time All-Big East selection, Cahill helped the Irish to five consecutive NCAA appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2005 and back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2006 and 2007. The Irish were also Big East Tournament champions in 2004 and regular-season champions in 2007.

Cahill finished with a career goals-against average of 0.81 and a 81.4 save percentage, while playing in 65 career matches (all starts) and posting a record of 39-17-9 (.669). His four shutouts in NCAA Tournament play during his career is a Notre Dame record. Cahill was named to the Big East Academic All-Star team during the 2006-07 academic year and was named Big East Goalkeeper of the Week on five occasions. 

Cahill earned a B.A. in American Studies from Notre Dame in 2007. A Louisville, Kentucky, native, Cahill was a first-team All-State goalkeeper at DeSales High School (‘03) and played at Javanon Soccer Club and Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club.