CHRIS CAHILL

Founder & Managing Trainer

  • Three-year starter and two-time all-conference, University of Notre Dame, 2003-07

  • Men’s Goalkeeping Coach, Harvard University, 2008-10

  • Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeping Coach, Bellarmine University, 2014-21

  • Director of Goalkeeping, Kentucky Fire Juniors, 2013-20

Through Bright Lights, Chris Cahill trains goalkeepers from all youth clubs in the Louisville area and has worked with several leading college and high school programs, including Bellarmine University, Spalding University, Oberlin College and Hanover College as well as Trinity, Sacred Heart, Assumption, Ballard, Collegiate, Christian Academy, Floyd Central, New Albany, North Oldham, Holy Cross, Eastern and Atherton high schools.

From 2013-2020, Cahill served as Director of Goalkeeping for the Kentucky Fire Juniors, where he produced 21 college signees, including 12 at the Division I level.

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

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 legendary coach Bobby Clark.

A three-year starter and two-time all-conference 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 conference tournament champions in 2004 and regular season champions in 2007.

Cahill finished with a career goals-against average of 0.81 and a .814 save percentage, while playing in 65 career matches (all starts) and posting a record of 39-17-9.

His four shutouts in NCAA Tournament play during his career is a Notre Dame record.

He was named to the Conference Academic All-Star team during the 2006-07 academic year and was named conference 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 and played at Javanon Soccer Club and Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club.