Calvin University

Mark Recker heads into his 17th year as head women's soccer coach at Calvin. Recker has compiled a won-loss record of 239-77-25 (.738) at Calvin.

Under Recker, Calvin has won eight MIAA in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2015 and six MIAA Tournament titles in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015. He has also coached nine NCAA Division III Tournament teams in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015. Including three trips to the national quarterfinals in 2006, 2009 and 2015.

During his 16 prior years as Calvin women's soccer coach, Recker has coached nine MIAA MVPs and nine MIAA scoring champions. He has also coached four NSCAA Division III All-Americans and three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.

Heading into the 2015 season, he was ranked 25th on the all-time NCAA III women's soccer coaches' list in terms of winning percentage.

Calvin went 11-9-1 in 2016 and the Knights advanced to the MIAA Tournament semifinal round.

The 2015 Knights advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals for the third time in school history. Calvin finished the year with a 21-3-2 record, the second most wins in a season in school history. The Knights finished the regular season as co-MIAA Champions with Hope with a 14-0-2 record, the Knights would claim the MIAA Tournament title with a 3-0 win over the rival Flying Dutch in the finals.

Recker’s Knights would win back-to-back MIAA regular season and tournament titles in 2012 and 2013.

Calvin would go on to win the MIAA Tournament in 2010 and qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

The Knights recorded three-straight regular-season MIAA titles from 2007 to 2009, including an MIAA Tournament title in 2008. Calvin advanced to the NCAA Tournament all three years, including another trip to the quarterfinal round in 2009, where the Knights fell to Washington University, 2-1.

Calvin's 2006 team posted a final season record of 22-0-1. Recker's 2006 team also allowed just six goals on the season, setting a new Calvin single-season record in the process. Calvin's victory total of 22 wins in 2006 was also a new single-season record. The Knights advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals for the first time in school history. For his coaching efforts, Recker was named the 2006 Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year. In addition, Recker was named the MIAA Women's Soccer Coach of the Year with his first perfect season in the MIAA at 11-0-0.

Recker's 2005 Calvin team finished fourth nationally in scoring average (4.14 goals-per-game) while also establishing Calvin and MIAA single-season scoring records. The 2005 team also established new MIAA single-season records for shutouts and fewest goals allowed. 2005 also marked his first MIAA title, finishing in first place with Hope at 15-1-0. He was named the co-MIAA Coach of the Year.

From 2002 to 2004, the Knights recorded two-second place finishes in the MIAA in 2003 and 2004.

In his first year as head coach in 2001, the Knights finished in second place in the MIAA at 11-3 and 15-5 overall. He also coached his first MIAA MVP with Tricia Dyk.

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.

A 1981 Calvin graduate, Recker was a four-time 1st team All-MIAA selection and a two-time MIAA MVP in men's soccer 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 and a master's in professional counseling from Liberty University. He has worked as a social worker in the Grand Rapids area for several years. He currently serves as a counselor in Calvin's Broene Counseling Center.

Recker is the father of three children, Christina, Brian and Carrie. All three children were active soccer players and were 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."