Upper School Alum Kicks off Pro Soccer Career

In January, Kipp “Kippy” Keller (US’19) was selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2022 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The center back joined Austin FC in Texas. The team, owned in part by Matthew McConaughey, already has 18 games under its belt. Keller is excited to be making his MLS debut this season, including starting three games with over 300 minutes of playing time.

While at Principia, Keller led the Upper School soccer team to its first Missouri State Soccer Championship win in 2015. He was also awarded First-Team All-State. His favorite part about being a center midfielder at Principia, along with winning a state title, was playing with close friends and family. “Kipp’s outstanding attributes as a player are his athleticism, speed, strength, technical ability—but above all, his determination to succeed and hunger to improve,” says Coach Nigel Marples.

Keller then played for the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club while attending the Upper School. Before being drafted to Austin FC, he played three seasons of soccer for Saint Louis University as a defender, where he contributed to an undefeated regular season and earned Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Keller relishes the opportunity to play in front of friends and family in Austin FC’s signature green and black. “[T]he team has been doing very well,” he says. Austin FC is currently second in the Western Conference standings with ten wins and four draws.

Looking back at the lessons he learned at Principia, Keller notes, “Principia taught me how to strive for greatness and put in the work to get there.” He continues to bring this commitment to excellence to the Major League Soccer stage.