| |
|
Rick Tilmans
Director of Coaching
Email: croyff7@yahoo.com
Rick was born in Holland
where he started playing soccer for local amateur club SV Haslou at age 5.
After playing up with older players all through his formative years. Rick
moved, at the age of 14, to then Dutch Eredivisie club Fortuna Sittard BVO
where he would spend the following five years, two of which as captain,
playing for the club's U16, U18, and Reserve Teams. In 1986 Rick played
with his team in the nationally televised Dutch U16 championship game
versus Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Adelaarshorst Stadium. It was at this
time that Rick was also invited to represent the KNVB (Royal Dutch Soccer
Association) and first starting playing for his district of
Sittard/Geleen, followed in quick succession by the KNVB representative
teams of South-Limburg, the province of Limburg, the region of
South-Holland, eventually becoming one of the country's best U16-18
players.
At the age of 19 mononucleosis struck hard and Rick was bedridden for 5
months although he still managed to graduate that year at the top Dutch
high school level from St. Michiel Gymnasium in Geleen. After entering the
University of Maastricht to study Law in 1991 Rick turned down the offer
from Fortuna Sittard to return to the professional level and focused on
becoming a Master in Law which he achieved in 1997 when he received his
degree.
After moving to the States at age 24, Rick starting coaching youth soccer.
Having played semi-professionally for the Arizona Sahuaros for a few more
seasons Rick has now been working in the valley for the last 13 years as a
full-time professional club trainer/coach and has been enthusiastically
fulfilling his life's purpose; helping kids succeed in life through the
medium of soccer.
Rick, wife Rhonda, and twins Sam and Max (goalkeeper
and center forward on Desert Elite's '01 boys team) have been living in
Scottsdale for the last 7 years. |
|
| |
|
|
