Induction into a Hall of Fame is special, even if it's your fifth time.

Former University of Evansville soccer coach Fred Schmalz has been chosen for induction into his hometown St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame on October 1. He is already a member of the Halls of Fame at Quincy University, where he played; Davis & Elkins College and the University of Evansville, where he coached, and the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame.

"The past inductees (into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame) were heroes to me when I was a kid, so this is very special," said the 65-year-old Schmalz. "It's a very competent list of players who are in there. I'm honored and humbled."

Schmalz retired from UE in 2002, following a 24-year career with the Purple Aces in which he compiled a 302-165-49 head coaching record and led the school to a pair of NCAA Division I final four appearances, in 1985 and 1990. The Aces reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times under Schmalz between 1982 and 1996. His 33-year collegiate head coaching record is 403-196-56, ranking him 21st in victories in NCAA history for all divisions, and ninth best in Division I history.

A 1961 graduate of LaBoure High School in St. Louis, Schmalz played on the 1966 NAIA national championship team at Quincy College. He began his head coaching career at the University of Wyoming in 1969, then turned Davis & Elkins into an NAIA national power in his seven years there before coming to Evansville prior to the 1979 season.

Since retiring from UE, Schmalz has remained active in the Evansville soccer community as a youth coach, and is also closely involved with the Goebel Soccer Complex on Evansville's north side.