Home  News Soccer Hall of Fame to Honor Six at Induction 2009
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Soccer Hall of Fame to Honor Six at Induction 2009
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Soccer Hall of Fame
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ONEONTA, NY (April 29, 2009) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame will honor six enshrinees from the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA), and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) during the Induction 2009 Weekend, July 31st through August 2nd. The six will have previously been inducted into each organization’s respective Hall of Fame at their individual annual meetings.
“We are proud to recognize the contributions of these individuals,” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. “There are many who labor out of the spotlight that make our game a success. In this case we have two administrators, two referees, and two coaches, all integral parts to a vibrant and growing soccer presence in the United States. We salute their individual achievements and honor their work.”
AYSO will enshrine Burton Haimes and Cherie Tucker. As a volunteer for over 33 years, Haimes has served as a Regional Commissioner, an Area Director, President, and Chairman of the Board. AYSO National Executive Director Rick Davis said of Haimes, “His commitment to and passion for AYSO has been unsurpassed in the giving of personal and professional time. His dedication has served as an example to others and is acknowledged and appreciated.” Tucker served AYSO for over 35 years, as both a volunteer and as the National Executive Director, under whom AYSO increased its national footprint. Davis said of her: “As an untiring AYSO evangelist, she helped others aspire to her vision of AYSO soccer for all kids supported by the most prepared volunteers. With great passion and hands-on style she set a direction for AYSO and challenged everyone to serve at the highest level.”
NISOA will honor Dave Boland and John Kennedy. Boland, a resident of Connecticut, has been a collegiate referee since 1972 and has officiated numerous NCAA Championship matches. In addition, he serves as a local, state and national assessor and has done so since 1988. He was also Director of National Assessment in 1983. Kennedy, a resident of Nevada, has officiated over 10,000 games, including the longest NCAA Division I Men’s Championship match in history, the 8-overtime game between UCLA and American University in 1985. Kennedy received the NISOA Distinguished Service Award in 1996.
NSCAA will salute Gene Chyzowych and Cliff McCrath. Chyzowych, most associated with his long and highly successful tenure at Columbia High School in New Jersey, also has served as head coach of the U.S Men’s National Team. He earned a 3 – 2 record during his five games in that part-time role, the only coach of the team during his era to have a winning record. During his tenure at Columbia he has amassed an amazing 701 wins and four New Jersey state championships. In addition to coaching boys’ soccer, he coached girls’ volleyball at Columbia, compiling an unblemished career record of 227 – 0! McCrath has a 37-year coaching resume, retiring from Seattle Pacific University following the 2006 season with a career record of 597 wins, 233 losses, and 95 ties. His career wins total is the second-highest in men’s collegiate soccer across all levels of play. His Seattle Pacific squads won five NCAA Division II national championships. McCrath was inducted into the NISOA Hall of Fame in 1993 and has also been elected to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Wheaton (Ill.) College Halls of Fame. In 1986 he was voted the NSCAA National Coach of the Year. He received the NSCAA Honor Award in 1985.
About the Hall of Fame
The Mission of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum is to Celebrate the History, Honor the Heroes,
Inspire the Youth and Preserve the Legacy of Soccer in the United States.
The Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution.
Located in Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a new 30,000 sq.ft., state-of-the-art multimedia museum in 1999. The Hall of Fame tells the story of soccer in America through artifacts, photographs, video and written narratives. The main VideoWall portrays some of the greatest moments and the greatest goals in soccer history as well as live soccer action from the World Cup, MLS, WPS, and U.S. Soccer matches. The Hall features an extensive interactive, youth oriented Kicks Zone, including a kid-sized indoor field, where visitors have fun kicking, heading the ball along with playing soccer video games. Unique and rare artifacts on exhibit range from the Dewar Challenge Cup, the oldest team trophy in U.S. sport, to the Women’s World Cup won by the USA in 1999, the uniforms of Pele and Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly’s golden shoes, and NASL championship rings. In addition to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s 61-acre complex boasts the Kicks Hall of Fame Museum Store, a research library, four world-class soccer fields and office/meeting facilities. Visit the Hall of Fame at www.soccerhall.org
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