Paul Koelpin finished his 26th season as the Head Coach of the MLC men’s soccer program in 2021, having held that title for all but one season (1997) of the program’s existence. In that time, Koelpin has amassed a record of 180-225-25.
Highlights of Koelpin’s career at MLC include back-to-back UMAC championships in the 2002 and 2003 seasons, with the 02 team also earning a berth in the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Tournament held that year in Bowling Green, Ky.
Koelpin has also won UMAC Coach of the Year honors three times, the latest of which came in 2017 after leading the Knights to a 10-9-1 record and fourth-place finish in the UMAC standings. Koelpin also won the award in 2001 and 2003.
After a lengthy run without making the UMAC Postseason Tournament, the Knights have now made four consecutive trips thanks to top five finishes in 2016 (fourth), 2017 (fifth), 2018 (third) and 2019 (fifth).
In 2018, Koelpin led the Knights to a third-place finish in the UMAC standings with a 7-3-2 conference record. That finish was the best finish for MLC program in more than a decade, and also helped leading scorer Joe Graumann to UMAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Koelpin graduated from Northwestern College (WI) in 1985, and was a member of the school’s first varsity soccer team. A two-year starter on defense, Koelpin earned all-conference honors as a senior while playing for Northwestern.
Koelpin also played college tennis at Northwestern and was a three-year varsity contributor to the team.
Koelpin served as an assistant tennis coach for women's and men's tennis from 2010-2013. In the spring of 2023, Koelpin finished his first season as the head men's and women's tennis coach at MLC.
Koelpin teaches general education and elective courses in the area of Western Civilization at MLC, and also teaches a seminar course in historiography. As part of the Theology offerings, Koelpin teaches the Biblical History & Literature II course.
Koelpin and his wife Rebecca have two daughters (Kristi and Abby) and two sons (Josh and Joel) all of whom are married and live out of state. They enjoy travel opportunities to see their family, which includes six grandchildren.
