Nick Kirchhof
Head Mens Soccer Coach
Nick Kirchhof, a national champion as both a player and a coach, is the current head coach of the men’s soccer program at MSU Denver. Since taking over the program in December 2020, Kirchhof has steadily elevated the team’s performance, guiding them to their best conference winning percentage since 2019 and building a reputation for competing at a high level within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
His leadership has been marked by record-setting team performances, such as a program-best 51.3 percent shots-on-goal rate in 2023, and numerous individual player honors, including multiple All-RMAC and All-Region selections.
Before joining MSU Denver, Kirchhof spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Stanford University, where he helped the Cardinal win back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2015 and 2016. During his time at Stanford, he played an integral role in the program’s rise to national prominence, working with All-Americans, a MAC Hermann Trophy winner, MLS Rookie of the Year recipients, and U.S. Men’s National Team players. The Cardinal posted a 65-23-16 record during his tenure, including a 46-8-11 mark in his final three seasons.
A standout player himself, Kirchhof won an NCAA Division II national title at Fort Lewis College in 2005 and was national runner-up in 2006. He helped the Skyhawks to four straight national tournament appearances, three RMAC regular season championships, and was named RMAC Tournament MVP in his senior season. Off the field, he excelled academically, earning multiple RMAC scholar-athlete awards and graduating with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. He later earned a master’s degree in sport management from California University of Pennsylvania and holds a United Soccer Coaches Premier License.
Kirchhof began his coaching career with roles at Colorado Mesa and the University of Denver before making the jump to the Pac-12. A native of Aurora, Colorado, and a Grandview High School graduate, he now lives in Denver with his wife, two daughters, and their dog.