Rockford University

Rockford University is excited to welcome Rick Mateus as the new Head Coach of the Regents' women's soccer program. A 1995 alumnus of Benedictine University, he earned a degree in Education with a concentration in Physical Education.

Mateus joins Rockford following an 18-year tenure as a paraeducator at the Harlem School District. He also brings extensive coaching experience, including a 29-year tenure as head coach of the Rockford Raptors. Additionally, he spent 13 years as the head coach of the boys soccer team at Belvidere North High School in the fall, where he won three Regional Championships in 2014, 2023, and 2024. In the spring, he coached the girls’ team at Belvidere North for two years, winning both the Regional and Sectional Championships in his first season in 2024. While at Belvidere North, he was named NIC-10 Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2024 and Sectional Coach of the Year in 2023.

Prior to his time at Belvidere North, he coached both the boys and girls teams at Rockford Christian High School from August 1999 to 2001.