PLNU Athletics

Mark Halpert was a two-sport athlete for the Crusaders in the early ‘80s and won acclaim in both soccer and golf. He was also been a two-sport coach in the ‘90s, helping the men’s soccer program to survive and then becoming the architect for the women’s soccer team—one of the newer programs.

Arriving from Canada to play soccer and golf, he found a Christian environment in which he flourished. Giving his life to the Lord on his birthday in 1981, he became a strong leader for both the golf and soccer teams. His smart, skillful style of play helped the soccer program escalate to prominence in the NAIA District Three. His junior and senior years were the first two years the men’s soccer team made the district playoffs and Halpert was the leading scorer as a senior.

He received the CSA Sportsmanship Award in 1983 and 1984 for soccer. On the golf team, he twice earned All-District Three honors in ’82 and ’83. He was twice named the team’s Most Valuable Player. Halpert had a great year in 1984 when the Crusader golf program began moving from golf matches to more tournament play. He finished that year with a 78 season stroke average (pretty remarkable considering each year he was well behind in the golf training because of soccer) and finished second in individual play at the NAIA District Three Championships. His career was validated as a junior when he received the coveted Meguiar Outstanding Male Athlete Award.

Halpert has been a key factor in coaching soccer at Point Loma. He was the head men’s coach from 1985-1988. More importantly, he served as a primary recruiter and carried the torch for the program to remain intact between coaches for about a six month period that was the key to the survival of the program. He recruited outstanding players and had them waiting when Coach Tim Hall returned to his alma mater to accept the coaching responsibility. He then served three years as the assistant men’s coach under Coach Hall.

In 1998, Halpert worked with the women’s soccer team on a club basis and the girls had an outstanding season competing with varsity teams all over Southern California. The success of his squad led the institution to begin women’s soccer on a full-sport GSAC basis.

The award for Outstanding Achievement by a Coach and Athlete was presented to Halpert by Bob Brower.