​Christopher Laney hired as new Head Coach at Divine Child

Divine Child is pleased to share that Christopher Laney has been hired as the new head coach of Divine Child High School’s football program. With nearly 20 years of coaching experience, Coach Laney has a passion for leading student-athletes and helping them reach their goals and achieve excellence on the field and in the classroom.

“Chris is a strong leader with a bold vision for Divine Child football,” said Garrett Simpson, Divine Child High School’s athletic director. “He has coached both sides of the ball and understands the mental and physical strength needed to drive a successful football program. I have full confidence that under his leadership, Divine Child’s football program will continue to thrive and maintain our legacy of athletic excellence and true Catholic sportsmanship.”

Coach Laney is not a stranger to the Falcon family, having been a member of Divine Child’s coaching staff since 2012. Over the years he has served in a variety of roles for the program including defensive back coach, offensive coordinator, and most recently the wide receiver coach. Prior to joining the Falcon coaching staff, he served the football programs at both Novi and Berkley high schools for a combined nine years.

Coach Laney’s program philosophy is centered on developing the whole player. Under his leadership, the team will strive to Rise Up - an acronym for respect, integrity, spirituality, effort, unity and perseverance.

"Together, not only as a program, but also as part of the school community, we will Rise Up to meet any obstacles head on and have a football program that everyone can be proud of,” Coach Laney said. “I am honored to have this opportunity to serve the Falcon family and further Divine Child’s legacy for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”

Coach Laney and his family are parishioners of Divine Child, his children Ellen (11), Niall (9) and Owen (6) attend the elementary school, and his wife Mary (Murray) is a 1995 graduate of DCHS as well as the school’s girls’ varsity basketball head coach.

Coach Laney is currently a physical education/health teacher at Novi Middle School and holds a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Michigan University and a Master in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College. He is also a Certified Adapted Physical Education (CAPE) instructor and has worked with the Athletes with Autism Organization.

Coach Laney will begin his tenure as head coach in the fall of 2022.