Hall of Fame
Rick Kilps enters the UW-Parkside Hall of Fame after a storied head coaching career in which he amassed 363 victories over 27 years as the leader of the Ranger Men’s Soccer program. That success ranks him fifth in all-time victories among men’s soccer coaches in the history of NCAA Division II.
Kilps’ program established a standard for success throughout his career. His teams were nationally ranked in 24 out of his 27 years as head coach; climbing as high as #1 in the country in 1994. The Rangers reached the final four of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament ten times while claiming the 2000 GLVC Championship.
He was a six-time NAIA District Coach of the Year and three-time Area Coach of the Year while also receiving two NCAA Regional Coach of the Year awards. Prior to his induction at UW-Parkside he was enshrined in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Soccer Association Hall of Fame.
Kilps’ mentored 85 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region recipients and 41 All-Americans at UW-Parkside. Prior to Parkside’s transition to NCAA Division II he guided 47 NAIA all-district players. He’s had 18 players drafted or sign contracts after their careers have ended with 13 going on to play professionally.
A grand total of 119 GLVC all-academic awards were bestowed on Kilps’ players after joining the league. Five of those players earned NSCAA Regional All-Academic Team awards and three took home the GLVC’s Academic Player of the Year Award. The team won 12 awards for Academic Excellence from the NSCAA over his last 15 years by achieving the necessary 3.0 team grade point average.
Kilps also was instrumental in the development of the Wood Road Field soccer complex on the east side of campus. He worked as the school’s head trainer from 1984-1998 while also serving as an associate professor of education.
