Robert Morris hires Michelle Rick as new women’s soccer coach

Robert Morris University Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris King has announced that Michelle Rick will be the next head coach of the Colonials’ women’s soccer program.

Rick joins RMU after spending the previous two seasons at the University of Findlay, a Division II school in Findlay, Ohio, where she had a 22-11-7 overall record and back-to-back berths in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals.

She coached five all-conference players a total of eight times, including the 2023 G-MAC Goalkeeper of the Year Kennedy Slovak and 2022 Elite 26 Award Winner Nikki Schuster. Additionally, two of Rick’s players earned a spot on the D2 Conference Commissioners Association Soccer All-Midwest Region teams in Hannah Rybicki (2023) and Ellie Tischler (2022).

Academically, 10 of Rick’s student-athletes earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® teams a total of 12 times.

Prior to Findlay, Rick got her start in college soccer as an assistant coach at Marietta College where she was heavily involved in all aspects of the program – including match and training planning, recruiting and fund raising. She was instrumental in recruiting and developing six All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections in her three seasons with the Pioneers.

Before moving to the college ranks, Rick served as the head coach of the Ohio Galaxies Futbol Club in Dayton, Ohio and was the assistant varsity coach and the head junior varsity coach at Beavercreek High School. She was on the coaching staff when Beavercreek won the 2018 Division I women’s Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Championship.

“Selecting Michelle Rick as our new head coach sets the course for a new era of success in all phases of our women’s soccer program,” said King.

“We were impressed by her passion and enthusiasm in her desire to become the next head coach for Robert Morris women’s soccer. She displayed a clear vision to elevate the soccer program and the student-athlete experience during her campus visit. Her combination of experience, professionalism, passion and preparation stood out to us, as we look to move our women’s soccer program to new heights.  She has been a part of championship-level soccer as both a Division I athlete at Wright State and as a coach and she will bring that kind of competitiveness to RMU women’s soccer. We are excited for Coach Rick to write the next chapter of our women’s soccer program and thrilled to welcome her to the RMU family.”

“I’m excited and honored to join the team and community at RMU,” said Rick.

“Thank you to RMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris King, President Michelle Patrick and the search committee for this opportunity. I’ve really enjoyed connecting with everyone who’s been involved in the process. I would also like to thank Jim Givens and the entire staff at The University of Findlay for the privilege of working with and learning from them during my time in Findlay, along with Joe Bergin at Marietta College for his mentorship and support throughout my college coaching career.”

A native of Beavercreek, Ohio, Rick played collegiately at Wright State where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences in 2015. She earned her master’s in education with a concentration in adolescent and young adult education in life sciences from the University of Dayton in 2019.

“RMU is a fantastic institution with a commitment to academic and athletic excellence and a legacy of success to build on,” added Rick. “I’m looking forward to getting to work with the team and hitting the ground running.”

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT MICHELLE RICK

Jim Givens, University of Findlay Director of Athletics

“Coach Rick will certainly be missed by all of us at the University of Findlay.  She has done an incredible job in a short period of time.  Her enthusiasm, love for the game and willingness to be a part of our team spoke volumes to the staff and her student-athletes. Our UF family wishes her nothing but the best and knows RMU is a better place today.”

Joe Bergin, Marietta College Head Men’s Soccer Coach

“I am very happy to hear of Michelle’s hire at RMU. I worked with her early in her coaching career and to see her growth as a coach and a human has been fun. I know the players at RMU will benefit from her work ethic.  It is nonstop. This is a great hire for RMU.”

James Walker, Creighton Head Women’s Soccer Coach

“Michelle is one of the top up-and-coming female coaches in the game. She builds relationships with her players that go beyond just coaching and values a great culture on-and-off the field. Michelle invests in coaching education that has helped her develop into a strong on field coach and she is a tireless recruiter with a good eye for talent.   I am excited to see what Michelle goes on to do at RMU.”

 

Following the recent departure of Head Coach Chris Shaw to Temple University, RMU put out a national search to fill the position.  Shaw helped turn around the program in the past four seasons, culminating with first-ever postseason appearance in the Horizon League tournament last Fall, as the Colonials hosted a playoff match in another program first.

In his four seasons at RMU, Shaw led the Colonials to 26 victories, including a program record 12 wins in 2023. This past season also saw RMU earn its first-ever Horizon League Tournament victory in its 4-1 win over Wright State while improving from five points to 16 in the league standings from 2022.