Albrecht Joins Redbird Coaching Staff

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State soccer head coach Raleigh DeRose has announced the addition of Kurt Albrecht to the program's coaching staff heading into the 2025 campaign.  

Albrecht comes to Normal after helping Lamar women's soccer to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, two Southland Conference Regular season titles and a pair of Southland Conference Tournament championships in his three-year tenure with the Cardinals. The Cardinals posted a 35-13-11 overall record and a mark of 22-4-6 in the Southland Conference during his tenure.  

"I am incredibly excited to welcome Kurt and his family to Illinois State," DeRose said. "His extensive knowledge in the college game as both a head coach and assistant coach makes him a great addition to our staff. Additionally, Kurt's experience working with championship programs throughout his coaching career will continue to enhance our competitive and positive environment. Our staff and team all look forward to working with him and making him a part of the Redbird Family."

His first two seasons in Beaumont, Texas saw Lamar win consecutive Southland Conference championships in both the regular season and the tournament, the first time any SLC team achieved this feat since the conference's inception.  

"I am honored and excited to join Illinois State and the women's soccer program," Albrecht said. "Coach DeRose is building something special, and I am privileged to join the coaching staff. It is wonderful to bring my family back home to central Illinois." 

The Cardinals posted a 15-3-3 record overall and went undefeated in the conference at 9-0-1 in 2023, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 2023 campaign also included a memorable 1-0 upset win over No.17 Xavier, marking the program's first-ever win over a ranked team. Albrecht helped the program have a best 10 all-conference winners including first teamers Arely Alaniz (Defender of the Year), Alana Clark (Midfielder of the Year), Hollie Massey (Player of the Year), Nicole Panis (Goalkeeper of the Year), Cariel Ellis, Kaisa Juvonen, and Isela Ramirez along with second teamers Caragan Childs, Trinity Clark, and Maddie Janolo. 

In his first season at Lamar, Albrecht helped guide the Cardinals to a 15-2-2 record overall and the double by winning both the 2022 Southland Conference regular season title with a 10-1-1 record and the conference tournament. The Cardinals set a new record for the best start in program history going 9-0-1, which bested the previous mark in the spring of 2021. This team included six all-conference first teamers (Arely Alaniz, Cariel Ellis, Kaisa Juvonen, Christine Kitaru, Nicole Panis, and Isela Ramirez) and one second teamer (Trinity Clark). Alaniz would be named defensive player of the year while Panis, who broke the school record for wins and shutouts, was selected as goalkeeper of the year. Lamar reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, falling to LSU in the first round. 

Arriving to Beaumont from Jackson, Miss., Albrecht was the head men's soccer coach of NCAA DIII Millsaps College for three seasons. While there, he guided the Majors to the SAA Conference Tournament semifinals and coached four All-Conference team honorees including Second Team All-SAA Brett Judd and Jacks Dowdy. 

Albrecht brings a wealth of experience at the NCAA DIII and NAIA levels, which includes three stops in the state of Illinois. He is the second all-time winningest men's coach in program history at Illinois College (2015-2019) and also worked as an assistant coach on the women's side at his alma mater Augustana College (2008-09) and on the men's side at Elmhurst University (2009-12). He helped Augustana to a then program-record of 13 wins in 2008. He also guided Elmhurst to the program's first ever conference championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament while coaching All-American goalkeeper John Reglin. 

Albrecht was a graduate assistant and JV head coach at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa from 2012-14 on the NAIA circuit. During his three seasons with the Fighting Bees, he helped coached the varsity team to their first winning season in five seasons as well as leading them to their first conference tournament final. 

A graduate of Buffalo Grove High School in Illinois, Albrecht played two seasons at DePaul before finishing his collegiate soccer career at Augustana. Albrecht has a master's degree in organizational leadership from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa to go along with a BA degree in Psychology from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illi. He also has a National "C" License from the U.S Soccer Federation and the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. 

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