Image: Matt Johnson
Bulleen Lions have appointed Melbourne City W-League assistant Paul Kilpatrick as head coach for the upcoming NPLW season.
The former FFV Coach of the Year recipient takes the reigns from Ricardo Martinez right on the eve of the new campaign, the latter returning to a youth development role at Veneto Club.
Kilpatrick began his women’s coaching career with Altona City, with whom he lead a young playing group up the ranks of both junior and senior football to the heights of the Women’s Premier League.
Consecutive league titles at U15 and U16 level was soon followed by three seasons of senior success with the same playing group; Kilpatrick leading his charges to three consecutive promotions, from the Metro Leagues into the WPL.
In his first season coaching in the top-flight in 2010, he retained City’s top-flight status with an eighth-placed finish, securing the Coach of the Year award for his efforts.
The Scotsman moved into an assistant coach role at Box Hill United in 2012 after leading City to another eighth-placed finish, although the club was ultimately relegated due to FFV-mandated club’s VCL Country and the EAP – both of whom were protected from relegation – finishing below them.
Working alongside senior head coach Jeff Hawkins, Kilpatrick helped Box Hill to the 2012 WPL title and a second place finish in 2013 before returning to a senior coaching role with Bundoora United, where he co-coached alongside Mark Torcaso – who he will come up against when Bulleen take on Calder United in the league.
The pair led a largely successful United to two consecutive finals series’ in the 2014-15 in the final two iterations of the WPL, before making the switch to men’s football as assistant coach of State League One outfit Diamond Valley United.
Kilpatrick simultaneously spent two seasons as a second assistant at W-League outfit Melbourne City, as they secured back-to-back titles in their first two years in the competition.
Bulleen have remained tight-lipped all pre-season over who would take the mantle of head coach, despite the club keeping relatively busy in the off-season with recruitment.
Kilpatrick will have a week to shape his squad before their season kicks off away to Bayside United the following Sunday night.