Rich Posipanko
Head Soccer Coach

     The Levittown, Pennsylvania, native will look to mold a group of veterans and talented newcomers into a solid team this year which hopefully will make a run at the conference championship and a trip to the NCAA regionals. The 1991 Big South Conference Coach of the Year has compiled a career record of 236-165-35 and has a Winthrop mark of 119-116-15. Posipanko is 23rd among active NCAA Division I coaches in total victories and ranks 41st on the All-Time Career list.

     Before coming to Winthrop, Posipanko spent 10 successful years as head coach of Longwood College in Virginia where he compiled a record of 117-49-20. During his last seven years at "The Wood", Posipanko guided his squads to the NCAA Division II top 20 each season and also developed seven All-Americans.

     Posipanko better know as "Gaff" by his players and peers has had a long list of success through his years of coaching. Prior to his position at Longwood, Posipanko served as the assistant coach at Trenton State College in New Jersey for three years. He also coach the Virginia State Team in the Olympic Development Program from 1986-1989. While at Longwood, Posipanko was honored three times -- 1982, 1984, and 1986 -- as the Virginia Coach of the year and in 1982 he was tabbed Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year.

     In addition to his college coaching experience, Posipanko coached professionally serving as assistant coach of the Houston Dynamos in the United States Soccer League in 1985.

     Posipanko is dedicated to soccer and spends much of his free time trying to improve the college game and give back to the local community with many summer soccer camps. He has served on numerous committees including the NCAA Academic All-American Selection Committee; chair of the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America South Rating Board; chair of the NCAA Soccer Selection Committee for the south region; President of the Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Association; and 1992 President of the Big South Conference Soccer Coaches.

     A 1974 graduate of Slippery Rock University with a degree in health and physical education, Posipanko earned his master's degree in the same field with a concentration in administration and athletic management in 1979 from Trenton State. He is married to the former Gayle Keener of Amelia, VA.

     You may contact Rich Posipanko at posipankor@winthrop.edu