Bryan Blitz Selected for Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
12/8/2020 10:08:00 AM | Soccer
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri soccer head coach Bryan Blitz will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 Class, the Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday. The annual Enshrinement presented by Killian Construction will take place on Sunday, Jan. 31 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.
The only head coach to patrol the sidelines for Mizzou Soccer, Blitz is in his 25th season at the helm of the Tigers in 2020-21. The program's founding head coach, Blitz owns a 252-214-38 record since Mizzou began play in 1996, and a 297-258-46 record in 29 seasons as a collegiate head coach. His 297 career wins ranks him 28th nationally among active head coaches, while his 252 wins at Mizzou are fourth among SEC head coaches at their current institutions.
Building the program from scratch, Blitz has guided the Tigers to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, making the second round four times. Hed led the fledgling Mizzou program to a postseason appearance in the program's fourth season – hosting Marquette in a quadruple overtime game in 1999. Under his tutelage, the Tigers claimed the 2009 Big 12 Conference regular season title and the 2008 Big 12 Tournament title.
Blitz' leadership transitioned Mizzou from the Big 12 to SEC in 2012 – raising the success of the program. The Tigers have qualified for the SEC Tournament in all but one season as conference members.
For his outstanding work, Blitz has earned Coach of the Year honors three times in his career. He was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2015, while also earning the honor twice in the Big 12 (2007, 2009).
Mizzou athletes have collected 62 all-conference honors under his tutelage. Former player Nikki Thole (1997-2000) stands as the program's only All-American, earning the honor from the NSCAA in 1999 – while also being named a freshman All-American in 1997. Mizzou individuals have also collected 22 all-region honors.
Three athletes have earned postseason conference honors in Blitz' career: Alysha Bonnick was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2007, Crystal Wagner the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, and Luebbert was named the 2016 SEC Freshman of the Year.
Blitz began his head coaching career at Butler University as the program's inaugural head coach in 1991. In his fifth season, he took the Bulldogs from obscurity to the national spotlight in an undefeated run through the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and the team's first national ranking. Blitz earned the 1995 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year award and received an invitation to help coach the U.S. Women's National Team.
The 2021 Missouri Sports Hall Class
- Derrick Thomas, Chiefs linebacker
- Dayton Moore, Royals GM
- Edwin Evers, Angler
- Mark Lamping, Former President of the St. Louis Cardinals
- John Roderique, Webb City football coach
- Bobby Allison, Springfield philanthropist
- Dennis Heim, Monett & Missouri State football standout
- Jim Middleton, Basketball coach
- Alex Hall, Kickapoo & Drury basketball standout
- Jim Whytlaw, Swim coach
- Missouri State Sugar Bears
- Dan Boever, Golf Long Driver & Entertainer
- Pat Colon, Southeast Missouri State basketball standout
- Poplar Bluff High School Boys Golf Program
- Paul Evans, Missouri State pitching coach
- The Mizzou Football Chain Crew
- Tom Mast, Sports Media
- Warrensburg High School Country Programs
- Ron Clawson, Warrensburg coach
- Bryan Blitz, University of Missouri soccer coach
- Cookie Rice of Ozarks Coca-Cola/Pepper – the President's Award
