Calvin Sports Report for Thursday, July 26
GRAND RAPIDS, MI * Mark Recker, a three-time MIAA MVP in men's soccer, has been named head women's soccer coach at Calvin.
Recker replaces Calvin Professor of Physical Education Deb Bakker who is stepping down as coach but will remain a Calvin professor. Recker is the fourth coach in Calvin women's soccer history, succeeding Dan Ackerman (1988), Mike Petrusma (1989-1994) and Bakker (1995-2000).
Recker will be taking over the reins of a women's soccer program that has reeled off 13 consecutive winning seasons including 12 straight seasons of double-digit victories since its inception as a varsity sport in 1988. In 13 years of varsity competition, Calvin is 172-59-5 for a superb winning percentage of .739. In conference play, the Knights are 100-25-3 for a sparkling winning percentage of .802 that ranks second among MIAA schools. During that span, Calvin has captured three MIAA Championships (1995, 1996 and 1997) while earning NCAA III Tournament berths in 1997 and 1998.
"We are very excited to have Mark join our coaching staff," said Calvin women's athletic director Nancy Meyer. "He brings a wealth of experience in soccer and also in the psychology of coaching. We are looking forward to having him help continue the success that our women's team has enjoyed."
A 1981 Calvin graduate, Recker was a four-time 1st team All-MIAA selection and a three-time MIAA MVP in men's soccer between 1976-1979. Recker was named the MIAA's co-MVP in 1977 and was then named MVP in 1978 and 1979. During that span, Recker helped lead Calvin to three MIAA titles in men's soccer including unblemished marks of 10-0-0 in 1976 and 1979. Recker served as a co-captain in 1978 and 1979 and earned All-Mideast region honors in 1978 and 1979. A four-year starter at the forward/striker position, Recker is the all-time MIAA leader in career assists. He is also tied for seventh on the all-time MIAA list for career goals and is fifth in career points.
Recker's interest in soccer began as a youth at the Hillcrest Academy in Nigeria where he was the youngest of six boys in a family of missionary parents. "All of my brothers played soccer and school recess was always a soccer game," recalled Recker. "I was constantly engaged with the game and found out that the game came naturally to me. Playing soccer as a young boy was a lot of fun." Recker later spent a year in the Netherlands while his father was completing post-graduate work and then moved to Grand Rapids where he graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and then Calvin.
After earning a Calvin degree in sociology, he went on to earn master's degree in therapeutic recreation in 1983 from Indiana University. He then accepted a position as an activity therapist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids. A registered social worker in the state of Michigan, Recker continues to work at Pine Rest where he serves as an adult services casemanager.
Recker began his coaching career as a student assistant coach for the Calvin men's soccer team under the direction of head coach Marv Zuidema in 1980 and 1981. In 1993, he returned to coaching, serving as the assistant coach of a U-11 boys team. Recker has continued to coach at the GRASA level including serving as head coach of a U-18 girls team in the fall of 1998. In addition, he has coached in the Grand Valley Soccer Association, serving as the head coach of a Premier Little Caesars Club boys team from 1996 to the present and as the head coach of GVSA girls U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-16 teams from 1998 to the present. In 1996, Recker earned a Level "D" coaching license from the Illinois Youth Soccer Association.
Recker is the father of three children, Christina, 20, Brian, 18, and Carrie, 16. All three children are active soccer players and have been instrumental in leading Recker into coaching. "I encouraged my son to try out for a travel team when he was 11 years old and when he made the team, I found out that I had a difficult time being a spectator and volunteered to be an assistant coach," he said. "The coaching bug really got me at that point and led me to coach both of my daughters later on."
Recker will have the opportunity to coach his daughter Christina at the college level this fall as she will be a junior goaltender on the Calvin women's soccer team that posted an 11-7-0 record in 2000 including a third place MIAA record of 10-4-0.
Calvin returns 19 letterwinners from last year's team, leaving Recker plenty of room for optimism.
"I've been to a number of Calvin's games over the last two years so I'm familiar with the personnel on the team," said Recker. "We have a good group of players that I believe can compete for the league championship."
Calvin will open the 2001 season on August 31 when it hosts Ohio Northern University.
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