Chris Barrett enters his 16th season as the head coach of Belmont Abbey men's lacrosse in 2027, having established the Crusaders as one of the premier programs in NCAA Division II lacrosse. Since taking over the program in 2011, Barrett has compiled a 155-78 career record (.665 winning percentage), making him the winningest coach in program history while guiding Belmont Abbey to regular-seaso and tournament conference championships, an NCAA Tournament appearances, and numerous national rankings.
A four-time Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year (2012, 2017, 2023, and 2026), Barrett has built a culture of excellence that has produced sustained success on the field and numerous individual accolades. Under his leadership, Belmont Abbey captured its first Conference Carolinas Championship in 2018 and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament berth. The Crusaders followed that breakthrough season by earning the No. 2 seed in the NCAA South Regional and hosting their first NCAA Tournament game in 2019.
Barrett has developed some of the top players in program history, coaching 22 All-America selections between 2015 and 2026. His list of All-Americans includes Devin Cruz, Adam Wiedemann, Anthony Cesario, Liam Osborne, Collin Grippo, Noah Haas, Neil Lingerman, Austin Hasen, Thomas Sullivan, James Bucher, Jacob Power, Davis McCulley, Caleb Mulcahy, Brendan Boschi, and John Valetto. Conference accolades have also been a regular occurance as from 2022-25 alone, Belmont Abbey produced 27 All-Conference selections, including 15 First Team honorees, further demonstrating the program's consistency at the conference and national levels.
Prior to Belmont Abbey, Barrett spent 11 years as a player and coach at Limestone University, one of the nation's premier Division II lacrosse programs. Following a standout collegiate career, he served seven seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2005-11. During that span, the Saints compiled an 84-21 record, captured six conference championships, and advanced to seven NCAA Division II Final Four appearances, including a national runner-up finish in 2005.
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A native of East Islip, New York, Barrett was a four-year midfielder at Limestone from 2001-04, helping lead the Saints to four consecutive NCAA National Championship game appearances and the 2002 national title. During his playing career, Limestone posted a 54-10 overall record and a perfect 35-0 conference mark.
Barrett earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from Limestone in 2004. He and his wife, Lea Anne, have two children, Christopher and Rylea.
Updated 6/16/26
