Bethany Lutheran College Athletics

Rob Pipal concluded his coaching career as the Bethany men's soccer coach in 2018 after 21 seasons. A true Viking, Coach Pipal is a former Bethany student-athlete and earned the men’s soccer team’s "Mr. Hustle" award during his playing career.
 
His coaching honors include NJCAA Region 13 Coach of the Year in 2002 and most recently Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Coach of the Year in 2010 after leading the Vikings to a 9-4-1 UMAC record and their most successful season since becoming an NCAA Division III member, finishing the season with an overall record of 12-8-1.
 
In 2015, the Vikings made the UMAC postseason tournament and earned their first postseason victory in over a decade, defeating #4 North Central 3-0 on the road. Coach Pipal has led the Vikings to a total of four appearances in the UMAC postseason tournament. Since becoming an NCAA Division III member in 2004, the Vikings have an overall record of 78-180-23 under Coach Pipal.
 
Coach Pipal also coaches in the summer for the Mankato United Soccer Club. In the summer of 2017, his U-15 Boys team participated in the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden.
 
Pipal has a "Premier Diploma" from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and a Master’s degree in Sports Psychology. Coach Pipal is also an Assistant Professor at Bethany in the Health and Human Performance department.
 
Pipal and his wife, Lori, have three children and make their home in Mankato.