MOREHEAD, Ky. - Warren Lipka, who started the University of Kentucky women's soccer program in 1992 and led the Wildcats to seven NCAA tournament appearances and who was a three-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, has accepted the head women's soccer coaching position at Morehead State. MSU Director of Athletics Brian Hutchinson finalized Lipka's appointment this week.
"We are very pleased that Coach Lipka has agreed to take on this new challenge. His experience as a successful head coach in the SEC will aid him in his efforts at Morehead State. He is uniquely qualified to lead our program well into the future," said Hutchinson. "Coming off an NCAA Tournament run in soccer, our future is bright and with Warren leading the program, we expect to continue our success."
Lipka is excited about the opportunity to remain in the Bluegrass State.
"First of all I want to thank (Morehead State President) Dr. (Wayne) Andrews and Brian Hutchinson for believing in me and giving me a chance to continue to build Morehead State soccer," he said. "I consider myself a Kentuckian now, and I am very excited to continue my career in such a great state. An old friend once said, "It's nice to be wanted" and I feel wanted here."
Lipka began his tenure at University of Kentucky as an assistant with the Wildcat men's program from 1990-92, and then helped to start the women's program in 1991. His first women's team was fielded in 1992 and since that time he was the only coach in the history of the program. He totaled 182 career wins at UK and was 71-56-10 in SEC matches.
In just his second season, Lipka guided the Wildcats to 13 wins, and then in 1995, UK won the SEC championship and he was named the league's Coach of the Year after UK went 17-7 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Lipka repeated the SEC Coach of the Year honor in 1999 when his team was 16-3-2 - the best record in school history. That team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, and he was also named Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year.
He also guided Kentucky to the NCAA tournament in 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002 and most recently in 2006 when the Wildcats won the SEC tournament championship with a 14-7-3 record. He won his third SEC Coach of the year accolade after the 2006 campaign. Twelve of his 17 teams had records of .500 or better and 12 won nine or more matches, which is the Morehead State single season school mark for victories.
During Lipka's tenure, the 'Cats had 30 total selections for All-Great Lakes Region, 33 All-SEC awards, 170 honors for the SEC Academic Honor Roll, three Soccer Buzz All-Americans, two National Soccer Coach's Association of America (NSCAA) All-Americans, and the 1995 SEC Player of the Year.
He also has a bevy of professional experience, as a player, coach and in administration. From 1989-91, Lipka was the general manager and head coach of the Indiana Kick of the National Professional Soccer League. He also played for the Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Flames of the American Indoor Soccer Association from 1986-89. He was the MVP in 1987 and 1988. In 1991, he concluded his professional career with the Detroit Rockers in the NPSL. He was in the United States National team pool in 1987 and participated in the United States Olympic Sports Festival in 1986.
Lipka also was the head coach at Bishop Dwenger High School in Ft. Wayne from 1987-90 and was the head coach at Tri-State (now Trine University) University in 1989.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Lipka was an outstanding collegiate athlete and goalkeeper at the University of South Carolina and in high school. He was named a Parade All-American in high school and then was the adidas College Goalkeeper of the Year at USC in 1985.
In addition to his collegiate coaching resume, Lipka has been heavily involved in youth soccer programs in Kentucky. He was a member of the Region II Olympic Development program staff, serving as head coach from 1992-94, and was also director of the Kentucky Kickers Soccer Club during that period.
On the international level, Lipka was the head goalkeeping coach for the United States Under-19 and Under-21 national teams in 2003. His Under-21 team allowed just two goals in four matches and won the Nordic Cup title for the fifth time in five seasons.
He holds a USSF "A" license - the highest a coach can hold for that federation - and an NSCAA premiere badge. Lipka has two sons, Warren Christopher and Joshua Michael.
