Chance Key was named the head coach of the table tennis program in August of 2013. He brings over 19 years of playing experience and returns to Lindenwood in a leadership role after serving as an assistant coach for the Lions from 2010-2012.

Key first decided that he wanted to be a table tennis player in 1989 when he saw the Chinese National Team play in a tournament at Cobo Hall Arena in Detroit, Mich. As he began playing, his initial style utilized a Chinese pen-holder grip with a short pips rubber paddle primarily for power, but over time, he developed a different style, utilizing the Japanese pen holder grip for more loop and spin.

Key played his first competitive tournament in 1991 and joined the St. Louis Table Tennis Club the same year after moving to the area. He became the tournament director for the organization in 1993 and managed two to three events per year through 2005. In 2001, he also became a Regional Table Tennis Umpire and has umpired the semifinals and finals of national tournaments.

Key is currently an auditor for the Comptroller’s Office in the Internal Audit Section for the city of St. Louis. He specializes in contract compliance and is studying to be a certified internal auditor in the future.

Key earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri in 2006 and obtained a master’s degree in business from Webster University in 2009. He became a certified fraud examiner in 2011.