University of Tampa Announces Return of Keith Fulk as Assistant Coach
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's soccer program is proud to announce that Keith Fulk, national champion, Hall of Famer, and one of the most accomplished figures in Spartan history, has been named Assistant Coach. His return brings home a program icon whose connection to the University of Tampa spans more than four decades as a player, assistant coach, head coach, and mentor.
Fulk is the only person in program history to be part of all three NCAA Division II national championships at Tampa. He helped deliver the program's first title as a player in 1981, contributed to the 1994 championship as an assistant coach, and led the Spartans to their third national crown in 2001.
The 2001 team finished 19-0-2, marking the program's second unbeaten season and tying the school record for most victories in a year. Fulk was named NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, the only coach in Tampa soccer history to receive the honor.
During his six seasons as Tampa's head coach, Fulk guided the Spartans to three Sunshine State Conference championships and recorded 48 victories with a .608 winning percentage. His teams produced six All-Americans and 16 all-SSC selections, including Roy Fink, who earned the 2001 National Player of the Year award along with two SSC Player of the Year honors under Fulk's leadership.
Fulk's coaching career beyond Tampa has been equally distinguished. He spent last Fall serving as associate head coach at D1 Missouri State, which finished the season 6-6-4. Prior to his stint at Missouri State, he spent six years as the U17 head coach at IMG Academy in Florida, where he previously served as head coach and director of boys' programs from 2010 to 2011.
Prior to IMG Academy, he led a major resurgence at Saint Leo University from 2011 to 2016, taking a program that had struggled in the Sunshine State Conference and elevating it to national relevance. Under his leadership, Saint Leo captured the 2015 SSC regular season title, earned four all-SSC honors, reached the NCAA South Region Semifinal, and finished No. 20 in the final NSCAA poll.
His 2014 team advanced to the SSC tournament semifinals and the third round of the NCAA Tournament, finishing No. 13 nationally, while the 2013 squad posted a 13-2-2 record and a perfect 7-0-1 conference mark, defeating No. 1 Rollins to win the SSC Championship and reaching the NCAA South Region Tournament for the first time since 2005.
Before his collegiate head coaching roles, Fulk spent eight years as an assistant coach with the United States U17 Men's National Team, participating in four U17 World Youth Championships and working alongside three coaches who now excel in Major League Soccer.
During this period, he coached numerous players who went on to successful professional careers both domestically and abroad. His path to U.S. Soccer began after leaving Tampa in 2002 for a one-year coaching stint at West Virginia University.
A University of Tampa alum and four-time all-conference and all-region standout, Fulk was inducted into the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame in 2008 and the University of Tampa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
"Keith's legacy at Tampa is unmatched," said Head Coach Adrian Bush. "He understands the championship standards of this university, and his experience developing elite players will have an immediate impact on our student-athletes. Bringing him back to Tampa strengthens every part of our program and is one of the biggest blessings we can receive. We are so excited that the band is back together."
For Fulk, the move represents a meaningful homecoming. "Returning to Tampa is incredibly special," Fulk said. "This program shaped me as a player and a coach, and I am excited to help write the next chapter of Spartan soccer."