Tom Gerlach, a six-time state champion at Christian Academy of Knoxville, has been named the boys soccer coach at Christ Presbyterian Academy.

Gerlach, 43, led CAK to Class A/AA championships from 2003-07 and 2009, and placed runner up in 2008.

He replaces Brett Armstrong, who resigned in May to become the principal at Intermountain Christian School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Brett Armstrong and I were good friends,” Gerlach said. “Back in 2005 CAK and CPA were playing in a state tournament. Brett and I arranged to have a barbecue with the two teams, and everyone said we were crazy. But we both wanted to show to the state that it’s more than just teams battling it out. We wanted to show the camaraderie and sportsmanship between two Christian schools. So we had a cookout in Nashville and Brett and I have stayed good friends ever since.”

Gerlach has always said the only school he would leave CAK for was CPA.

Gerlach coached the Knoxville Lady Force in the Women’s Professional Soccer League the past three seasons as the head coach this year and an assistant the previous two. Knoxville (4-4-3) lost to Nashville in the playoff semifinals this season.

He went 137-32-13 at CAK from 2003-10. CPA beat CAK in the first round of the state tournament in his final game there in 2010.

CPA beat CAK 1-0 to win the A/AA title in May.

“We are blessed to have Coach Tom Gerlach lead our boys soccer program at CPA,” Lions athletic director Mike Ellson said. “Tom has coached against CPA for several years, and it will be a privilege to have him as one of our own. Tom was recommended to us by Brett Armstrong.”

Gerlach previously coached at Titusville, Fla.

He played at Concord, Delaware, in high school before becoming striker at Carson-Newman from 1989-92.

Tom Gerlach’s record

Year W-L-T GF GA

2004: 18-5-2 75 12

2005: 18-2-4 78 12

2006: 19-2-0 83 13

2007: 18-4-1 74 20

2008: 14-8-1 53 31

2009: 19-2-3 77 15

2010: 14-7-2 55 20