Hartford, Conn. - Trinity College has announced the retirement of Head Men's Soccer Coach Mike Pilger. Pilger coached the Bantams for 18 years, winning 96 games and guiding Trinity to the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Finals and the NCAA Division III Second Round in 2011. Trinity was 3-11-1 overall and 0-9-1 in the NESCAC in 2021.  A national search for a new head coach will be launched immediately.  

"Coach Pilger served Trinity students and our athletic department with unwavering dedication," said Trinity Director of Athletics Drew Galbraith. "He was an extraordinary advocate for the young men in his program and played a pivotal role in their growth as students, athletes and members of our community. Mike is a loyal friend and supporter to his fellow Trinity coaches and his presence will be missed. We wish him all the best in this next phase of his life."

Pilger, named the NESCAC Coach of the Year in both 2007 and 2011, posted a 236-196-49 record in 30 seasons as an NCAA Division III head coach (96-133-26 in 17 seasons at Trinity).  Pilger had arrived at Trinity from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and also coached previously with the Cleveland Crunch of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), the University of Rochester and Kenyon College.  He was selected as the National Coach of the Year in 1990 after leading Kenyon to a perfect 18-0 regular season. 

Founded in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1823, Trinity College (www.trincoll.edu) is an independent, nonsectarian liberal arts college with more than 2,200 students from 45 states and 67 countries. Trinity sponsors 30 varsity sports, 15 for men and 15 for women, with close to 700 participating student-athletes.  Trinity is home to the eighth-oldest chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in the United States. The faculty and alumni include recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, the MacArthur award, Guggenheims, Rockefellers, and other national academic awards. Trinity students integrate meaningful academic and leadership experience at all levels on the college's celebrated campus, in the capital city of Hartford, and in communities all over the world.