Collegiate Alum Selected for Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

BY ASHLEY JONES

 

Collegiate alum Rob Ukrop ’88, will be inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame on April 30.

 

While at Collegiate, Mr. Ukrop was All-Prep his junior and senior year, and the captain of the soccer team his senior year. He made history at Collegiate as the leading goal scorer, netting 74 goals over his four years on the team.

 

Mr. Ukrop’s former coach, and current Collegiate boys’ soccer head coach Charlie Blair, says he is sometimes asked who has been his best player.

 

“I usually duck the question, but when pressed, I say that Rob Ukrop was the best goal scorer that I have had the privilege of coaching,” said Mr. Blair, who is also Head of Collegiate’s Middle School. “And given the opportunity to create an all-time team of Collegiate players, Rob would be my first choice, hands down.”

 

After graduating from Collegiate in 1988, Mr. Ukrop attended Davidson College, where he was named second-team All American, and in 1991 he competed in the NCAA Final Four. He was also on the U.S. Soccer National B Team and attended the World University Games in 1993.

 

During his third year playing professionally with the Richmond Kickers, he led his team to a win in the 1995 U.S. Open Cup, and was named championship game MVP.

 

In 2004, Davidson College retired Mr. Ukrop’s jersey (No. 6) and inducted him into the college’s Hall of Fame. He also retired from the Kickers that year.

 

Mr. Ukrop, is a member of Collegiate’s Hall of Fame as well, and shares his soccer skills with current students. He is the girls’ varsity head coach and oversees the 7th-12th Grade girls’ soccer program at Collegiate, and also serves as one of the boys’ Varsity soccer assistant coaches.

 

“Rob Ukrop has a storied soccer career as a player, coach and an ambassador for youth sports,” said Karen Doxey, Collegiate’s Director of Athletics. “He has a vision for success and knows how to bring about improvement in his players and to a team overall. We are both proud and happy to hear that he has been inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall Of Fame.”