CLAREMORE, Okla. – After 18 seasons guiding his teams from the sidelines, Rogers State Head Men's Soccer Coach Derek Larkin has announced that he will be stepping away from coaching and moving into an administrative role at the end of the 2024 season.
 
"Over the past 18 years, I have had the great privilege of coaching not only great soccer players but great people," said Larkin. "I have been just a small piece of these programs and am incredibly grateful for all the players and assistant coaches that have been a part of these teams over the years. Those people are just as responsible for the success of these programs as I am, if not more. They have impacted me more than they will ever know and for that, I will be forever grateful; I love them all! RSU has been such a special place not only to me but my family. It has been so awesome to see where we started, to what we have become! Although I will miss being on the sidelines, I am excited to move into a new position at our great University. I want to thank Dr. Ratcliff for this amazing opportunity to continue contributing to a place that has become such an important part of my life!"
 
The Father of Hillcat Soccer, Larkin created both the men's and women's soccer programs in the fall of 2007. He gave up the women's head coaching role after the 2013 season while continuing as the only head coach in men's soccer history.
 
"We could not be more thankful to have a top-notch coach like Derek leading our athletic department for nearly two decades," said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Ratcliff. "Derek was one of the integral people who helped lay the championship foundation for RSU Athletics in its infancy and has continued to uphold that tradition of excellence to this day. I could not be more proud of the work he has done leading his teams on the field, and am even more excited to have him help continue to grow the department in an administrative role!"
 
Larkin established a winning tradition on the Hill, leading the Hillcats to over 250 wins in 18 seasons between the men's and women's programs, including an undefeated run during the COVID-forced 2021 Spring season. RSU swept the GAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships that year, and during the 2019 season as well.
 
He found success early in his tenure as he guided the women's soccer team to the 2007 Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Tournament Championship (the first championship for any program in school history) and an appearance in the NAIA Region VI Tournament Finals in their first season in existence. That team was headlined by Hillcat Hall of Famer Robin Sutherland who was named a NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, NAIA Region VI Player of the Year, First Team All-Region VI, SAC Offensive Player of the Year, SAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-SAC after the season.
 
During his years at the helm of the men's soccer program, he recorded 15 seasons of .500 or better, including nine straight winning seasons as of the last season. Larkin also has guided the Hillcats to 20 total 10-plus win seasons between the men's and women's teams. He has also been recognized by his peers as he has collected three Coach of the Year awards along the way.
 
Larkin has guided four All-Americans, eight Conference Players of the Year (two Players, two Goalkeepers, two Newcomers, one Midfielder and one Defender), 51 All-Region/District selections and 89 All-Conference selections. His student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom as he has coached nine Academic All-Americans, 42 Academic All-Region/District Scholar-Athlete honorees, and had two teams earn Academic Team distinctions.
 
When not on the sidelines of Soldier Field, Larkin has served as the head coach of multiple club programs, including most recently Blitz Academy FC. In his club coaching career, Larkin has collected a club national championship as well as six Presidents Cup Oklahoma State Championships and a runner-up finish.
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT DEREK LARKIN:
 
"I owe Derek so much. He gave me my first real shot at coaching and running a program. He took me under his wing and pushed me to be better every single day. I owe him more than he'll ever know. And even today, he's still checking in on me and making sure I'm on the right path. He has built a nationally recognized program from the ground up, with one of the best facilities in the nation. The guy is an absolute beast, and I love him like a father. Anyone who has had the honor to do life with Derek is a lucky human. I will never take him or his mentorship for granted. He changed my life for the better and has done so for so many others." – Scott Parkinson, Head Assistant Coach at Reign FC and Former RSU Men's Soccer Assistant and Head Women's Soccer Coach
 
"It is hard to imagine Coach Larkin not being on the sidelines for RSU Soccer. He was our first hire for a Head Women's and Men's Soccer Coach at RSU back in 2006, and we did not even have a soccer ball on campus at the time. I would say we got that one right! We all appreciate all he has done for RSU and the soccer programs!" – Eddie Jackson, Former RSU Senior Associate Athletic Director
 
"It's been great being able to compete against Larkin for the past 10 years. He's built a program over his time there that has been able to turn out a team that can compete against anyone in the country on and off the field. I'm happy for him and his family that he is staying at Rogers State in his new administrative role." – Michael Meachum, Head Coach at Midwestern State University