Chris Bunch enters his 25th season as the head men's basketball coach at Webster University in 2026–27. The winningest head coach in program history, Bunch has compiled a 362–256 (.586) overall record and a 274–110 (.714) mark in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) play during his tenure with the Gorloks.
Since taking over the program in 2002, Bunch has guided Webster to 10 SLIAC Regular Season Championships, three SLIAC Tournament Championships and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances (2011, 2014 and 2020). He has been named the SLIAC Coach of the Year eight times (2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2026) and earned D3hoops.com Central Region Coach of the Year honors in 2014. Bunch was also selected as a co-recipient of the SLIAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Decade award for 2010–19.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Bunch was appointed Webster University's interim director of athletics in June 2026.
In 2025–26, Bunch guided Webster to one of the most successful seasons in program history, finishing 23–4 overall and 15–1 in SLIAC competition. The Gorloks captured their 12th conference regular-season championship in program history and established school records with 22 regular-season victories and 15 consecutive conference wins. Webster advanced to the SLIAC Tournament championship game, falling to Mississippi University for Women by a single point. Bunch was named the SLIAC Coach of the Year for the eighth time.
The 2024–25 season saw Webster finish 15–13 overall and 12–6 in conference play, placing fourth in the SLIAC standings. The Gorloks advanced through the conference tournament to reach the championship game against Greenville, ultimately falling 115–104. It marked another postseason championship appearance under Bunch's leadership.
During the 2023–24 campaign, Bunch led the Gorloks to a 13–14 overall record and a 10–8 mark in SLIAC play. Webster averaged 73.1 points per game while limiting opponents to 41.0 percent shooting from the field. Defensively, the Gorloks averaged 5.1 blocked shots per contest.
In 2022–23, Bunch guided Webster to a share of the SLIAC regular-season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament. The Gorloks finished 14–13 overall and 10–4 in conference play, overcoming an 0–8 start to the season with a 10-game winning streak. Bunch recorded his 300th career victory against Spalding on January 5, 2023, and earned his seventh SLIAC Coach of the Year award. Karl Moore Jr. was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year, while Moore and Wynne Brown Jr. earned First Team All-Conference honors.
The 2021–22 Gorloks finished 10–18 overall and 6–8 in conference competition. Despite entering the SLIAC Tournament as the No. 5 seed, Webster advanced to the tournament championship game before falling to Blackburn. The postseason run gave Bunch another appearance in the conference tournament final.
During the COVID-19-shortened 2020–21 season, Webster played an abbreviated schedule and finished 4–6 overall with a 4–4 mark in SLIAC competition. The season washeld during an adjusted February-to-April schedule following the conference's decision to delay basketball competition.
In 2019–20, Bunch guided the Gorloks to a 19–9 overall record and a 16–2 mark in conference play. Webster captured its second consecutive SLIAC regular-season championship before defeating Greenville, 121–112, in the conference tournament championship game. The victory secured the program's third NCAA Division III Tournament appearance under Bunch. He earned his sixth SLIAC Coach of the Year honor, while Josh Johnson was named the conference Player of the Year.
The 2018–19 campaign saw Webster finish 20–7 overall and 15–3 in SLIAC play. The Gorloks captured the regular-season conference championship and advanced to the SLIAC Tournament title game, where they fell to Eureka by a single point. Bunch was named the SLIAC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career.
In 2017–18, Webster posted a 13–12 overall record and a 10–8 mark in conference competition. The Gorloks finished tied for third in the SLIAC standings as Bunch continued his tenure leading the program.
The 2016–17 season saw the Gorloks finish 14–12 overall and 11–7 in SLIAC play. Webster finished tied for fourth in the conference standings.
During the 2015–16 campaign, Webster registered a 13–12 overall record and a 10–8 mark in SLIAC competition. The Gorloks finished tied for third in the conference standings.
In 2014–15, Bunch guided Webster to a 17–9 overall record and a 13–5 conference mark, earning a share of the SLIAC regular-season championship. During the season, Bunch recorded his 200th career coaching victory in a road win over Fontbonne. The title marked another conference championship in a successful stretch for the Gorloks.
The 2013–14 campaign was another milestone season for Bunch and the Gorloks. Webster finished 20–8 overall and 15–3 in conference play before capturing the SLIAC Tournament championship with a 55–51 victory over Spalding. The tournament title earned Webster a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Following the season, Bunch was recognized as the D3hoops.com Central Region Coach of the Year.
In 2012–13, Bunch led the Gorloks to a 14–12 overall record and an 11–5 mark in SLIAC competition. Webster finished fourth in the conference standings.
During the 2011–12 season, Webster captured another SLIAC regular-season championship after finishing 13–3 in league play. The Gorloks completed the season with a 13–13 overall record, and Bunch earned his fourth conference Coach of the Year award.
The 2010–11 season saw Bunch guide Webster to a 20–7 overall record and a 13–3 mark in conference play. The Gorloks earned a share of the SLIAC regular-season championship before capturing the conference tournament title and advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time under Bunch.
In 2009–10, Webster finished 13–13 overall and 10–6 in conference competition. The Gorloks concluded the regular season tied for third in the SLIAC standings.
During the 2008–09 campaign, Bunch led the Gorloks to a 14–12 overall record and an 11–5 mark in SLIAC play. Webster finished third in the conference standings following its historic undefeated conference season the previous year.
The 2007–08 season marked a historic achievement for Webster men's basketball. Bunch guided the Gorloks to a 20–6 overall record and a perfect 16–0 mark in SLIAC competition, delivering the program's first 20-win season and first undefeated conference regular season. Webster also established a school record with a 15-game winning streak to close the regular season. Bunch earned his third SLIAC Coach of the Year award.
In 2006–07, Bunch guided Webster to a 16–10 overall record and a 14–4 conference mark. The Gorloks earned a share of the SLIAC regular-season championship, giving Bunch his second conference title as head coach. He was named the SLIAC Coach of the Year for the second time.
The 2005–06 Gorloks finished 12–14 overall and 10–4 in SLIAC play, placing third in the conference standings.
During the 2004–05 season, Bunch led Webster to a 17–10 overall record and a 12–2 mark in conference competition. The Gorloks captured their first SLIAC regular-season championship under Bunch, who was subsequently named the conference Coach of the Year for the first time.
In 2003–04, Webster finished 16–9 overall and 8–6 in SLIAC play. The Gorloks improved their overall win total by four games from Bunch's inaugural season and finished fourth in the conference standings.
Bunch began his tenure at Webster in 2002–03, guiding the Gorloks to a 12–13 overall record and a 9–5 mark in SLIAC competition. Webster finished third in the conference during his first season leading the program.
Prior to his arrival at Webster, Bunch spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee. Before entering collegiate coaching, he served seven years as the head boys' basketball coach at South Greene High School in Greenville, Tennessee. During his high school coaching career, Bunch compiled 100 victories and guided two teams to top-10 rankings in the state.
Bunch graduated from Lincoln Memorial University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Science Education and later earned a Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision in 2002.
He and his wife, Christine, reside in Kirkwood, Missouri.
