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Derek Larkin
Derek Larkin wrapped up his 17th season leading the Rogers State men’s soccer team after creating the program in 2007.
Larkin led RSU back to the GAC/MIAA Tournament Championship for the second-straight season and fourth time in five tries in 2023. The Hillcats ranked in the USC Top 25 Coaches Poll for eight straight weeks, climbing as high as No. 13.The finished the year with a 12-6-2 record and an 8-4 record in league play. Larkin coached Luke Morgan to a GAC/MIAA Midfielder of the Year Award with nine players earning All-Region honors and 10 being named All-GAC/MIAA , including three on the first team.
2022 saw the Hillcats return to the GAC/MIAA Tournament Championship for the third time in four years with Larkin being named GAC/MIAA Coach of the Year for the second time since joining the league. RSU ranked in the Top 25 for three weeks, climbing as high as No. 17. They finished the year ranked second in the GAC/MIAA with a record of 10-4-6 (7-1-4). Larkin also coached eight players to All-Region honors and 10 to All-GAC/MIAA honors, including four on the first team.
In 2021, Larkin guided the HIllcats back to the GAC/MIAA Tournament with an appearance in the tournament semifinal. RSU ranked in the Top 25 all season, climbing as high as No. 9. They finished the year ranked third in the GAC/MIAA with a record of 11-5-3 (7-3-2).
Larkin has established a winning tradition on the Hill, leading the Hillcats to a 154-97-37 record in 16 seasons, including an undefeated season sweeping the GAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships in Spring 2021. The double came in defense of the program’s first conference championship in 2019.
Over the last three seasons, Larkin has coached the program’s first two NCAA All-America selections, forward Jake Simpson and goalkeeper Dillon Dean. Simpson was also named an Academic All-American. Hillcats have also earned 25 athlete of the week honors, 23 all-conference awards, two conference players of the year, and had 21 academic honor roll recipients.
During his 16 seasons with the men’s soccer program, Larkin has amassed 13 seasons of .500 or better, including eight straight after this year. He also has guided the Hillcats to 10 10+ win seasons.
During his 16 years with Rogers State, Larkin has coached and guided four All-Americans, seven Conference Players of the Year (two Players, two Goalkeepers, two Newcomer, and one defender), 42 All-Region/District selections and 79 All-Conference selections. His athletes have also succeeded on the academic side, as he has coached eight Academic All-American selections, 36 Academic All-Region/District and Scholar-Athlete honorees, and had two teams earn an Academic Team distinction.
Larkin became the first coach at RSU to guide their program to postseason play after moving to the NCAA Division II in 2016 and has guided the Hillcats to several major victories. In 2018, the Hillcats knocked off perennial power Rockhurst with a 2-0 victory at Soldier Field. In 2017, Larkin earned his 100th career win for the men's soccer program at RSU with a 1-0 win over national power Fort Hays State. In 2016, the Hillcats knocked off No. 3 St. Edward's.
Both the RSU men and women enjoyed double-digit win totals in each of their first five seasons and qualified for the Sooner Athletic Conference postseason tournament in each of the six seasons it was a member.
Larkin led both of his first-year programs to a second-place finish in the SAC and a spot in the Region VI Tournament in 2007, reaching the postseason with both squads again in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He spurred the Hillcat women to the SAC Tournament Championship during their inaugural season and was named 2007 SAC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Larkin joined RSU in January 2007, tasked with being the University’s first head soccer coach. Before coming to the Hill, Larkin enjoyed success as the head boy’s soccer coach at Bishop Kelley High School from 2004-06. He led the Comets to back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006.
He previously served as the head men's and women's soccer coach at Bacone College from 2002 to 2004. He was named the Red River Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002 after leading the Lady Warriors to the conference championship.
Larkin also worked as both the men's and women's head soccer coach at Missouri Valley College from 1997 to 1999 and at Catoosa High School from 1999 to 2002. He compiled six district championships at Catoosa and was honored as the head coach of the Oklahoma All-State team in 2002.
A four-year starter at Missouri Valley College, Larkin was a two-year captain leading the Vikings to two Heart of America Athletic Conference championships. He was twice named first-team all-conference and second-team all-region.
Larkin also serves as a coach for the Oklahoma Energy FC, where he has worked with youth age groups for the last three seasons. In his club coaching career, Larkin has collected six Presidents Cup Oklahoma State Championships and a runner-up finish..
Larkin and his wife Christy have two boys, Zach and Adam, and reside in Owasso.
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