BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The next coach in the Moravian College Department of Athletics & Recreation's Get to Know Coach series is Head Men's Soccer Coach Bob Wilkinson, who is in his third year with the Greyhounds and has guided the Greyhounds to a pair of Landmark Conference Tournament appearances.
Bob Wilkinson
College: LaSalle University '88
What is your favorite part of your sport? My favorite part of Soccer is the teamwork it takes to be successful. Rarely can one performance win a game. It takes the whole group to get the job done. This is basically true of all sports.
How did your experience as a student-athlete help shape you as a coach? My Student Athlete experience is unique in that my dad was my head coach at La Salle University. Our team was hard working and very gritty. Most importantly we were tight-knit. Team culture was valued most of all. It was a great experience to be a student athlete at La Salle at that time. Many of my teammates have gone on to coach at different levels with one of the key goals to recreate the experience we all shared.
What do you love most about coaching at Moravian College? What I love about coaching at Moravian College is the people I am around. Moravian has great facilities. But it's the people inside them that are at the heart of what makes our school great.
What is your favorite place on campus and why? My favorite place on campus is Makuvek Field. Whether it's a game or practice there is a great energy there. It is a great setting. It's in the middle of campus. Every day I am on Mak Field is time well spent.
What is your most memorable moment at Moravian? The most memorable moment in my three years here came during my first season. We scored in overtime against Goucher. It was the last game of the season and we had to win to qualify for the playoffs. The bench emptied and the whole team piled up on the field. It was a great celebration.
Do you have any pre-event/game rituals or superstitions? Our pregame ritual is the team and coaching staff will touch the Greyhound statue on top of the hill before we begin our warm-up.
Sum up your coaching philosophy in one sentence? My coaching philosophy is basically to give back what people have done for me. I have had an incredible soccer journey. I hope the players that I have had the privilege to coach feel the same way.
What do you look for in a recruit? What I want in a recruit is someone who loves soccer, wants to do well in school and is willing to work hard at both.
What is the best piece of advice you've been given? The best advice I have ever been given is be yourself.
Who are your role models/most influential people? My role models are my mom and dad.
Which three people, living or dead, would you like to share a meal with? The three people I would like to share a meal with are Tom Petty, Vince Lombardi and Chase Utley.
What have you done more of since March that you wouldn't have if sports had not been postponed? The thing I have done more since March is have dinner with the family. We all have busy schedules and to have the whole family at dinner was rare. It was great while it lasted.
If you weren't coaching, what would you be doing? If I wasn't coaching, I would be a nurse. I actually am a Registered Nurse. I worked primarily in Oncology and then Home Care for over 20 years.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise most people. It would surprise people to know that I have done a painting for every senior athlete I have coached for approximately 10 years now. We give them at our end of season banquet as a senior gift. I do still have a couple I am finishing though.
Quick Hits:
Favorite Color – Blue Grey
Favorite Food – Eggplant Parm
Favorite Restaurant – Giuseppies in Richboro. The owner is a soccer guy. A lot of good people there.
Favorite Movie – Chariots of Fire
Favorite TV Show – Seinfeld. Still makes me laugh
Favorite Musical Artist – Tom Petty
Favorite Athlete – Mike Schmidt
Favorite Pro Team – the Eagles
Hobbies – drawing and painting
Most Prized possessions – Birthday Cards my daughter makes for me and a couple baseballs my son signed and gave to me over the years
Ideal Travel Destination – Europe. England or Germany
Your Spirit Animal – a deer. They will walk right up to me. No kidding.
Superpower you'd Like to Have – the ability to see the future. It would let me know when we are all going to play again.
