Osiander Named as 12th Chyzowich Award Recipient

Long-time coach and educator Lothar Osiander has been selected as the recpient of the 2007 Walt Chzyowich Award, which is presented annually to recognize and give thanks for a person’s lifetime of dedication to preserving the spirit of the game of soccer, advancing its level of play and promoting its growth and development among youth and adults nationwide.

A member of the 1966 University of San Francisco NCAA national championship team, Osiander joined the U.S. Soccer coaching staff in 1974 upon completion of his “A” coaching license. He soon found himself traveling the country with Walt Chyzowich and a select group of others, spreading the gospel of soccer as part of a teaching career that would span the next 30 years. There are legions of current coaches who remember his extraordinary dribbling skills and ability to demonstrate moves and feints while students of his.

Despite limited formal training, Osiander was quickly recognized as a valuable team coach. He was named coach of the West team for the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1978 and held that position for the next 10 years. His success, coupled with the camaraderie he developed with the top players of the day, led Chyzowych to appoint Osiander National and Olympic Team coach. He led the U.S. Olympic Team to a gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba. He also guided the National Team to its first victory in Mexico in 1992.

Osiander, who won the 1992 and 1994 U.S. Open Cup with the San Francisco Greek Americans, was hired by the Atlanta Ruckus of the A-League. He was named the league’s Coach of the Year in 1995 after leading the Ruckus to a national runner-up finish.

Major League Soccer took notice of Osiander’s successes, hiring him as the Los Angeles Galaxy coach in the league’s inaugural season in 1996. Under his tutelage, the Galaxy earned a berth in the 1996 MLS Cup. Later, Osiander continued his player development role as he was named MLS Project 40 coach, helping prepare an aspiring group of players to rapidly accelerate to the next level.

In 2003 Osiander turned his attention to the U-16 and U-17 boys teams of Ballistic United and won several championships with these teams. Today, he is coach of San Ramon United, a U-17 boys team.

As the 12th recipient of the award, Osiander joins a list of outstanding soccer personalities who are prior recipients: Jerry Yeagley (1996), Anson Dorrance (1997), Bill Killen (1998), Joe Morrone (1999), Bob Gansler (2000), John McKeon (2001), Mel Lorback (2002), Bruce Arena (2003), Tom Fleck (2004), Joe Machnik (2005) and Nickola Zlatar (2006).

Osiander will be honored at the the 2007 Walt Chyzowych Memorial Fund and Ceremony on Saturday, Jan., 13, 2007, in Indianapolis, Ind., in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) Annual Convention.

The Walt Chyzowych Memorial Fund has been organized to support programs and persons aspiring to the principles of life and sport as espoused and exemplified by Walt Chyzowych. The fund is a tax-exempt 509(a)(1) organization. For further information and donations contact:

Ralph Lundy (843-478-0214)
Ralph Polson (843-270-6445)
Walt Chyzowych Memorial Fund
2290 Captain Waring Court
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
email: polsonr@cofc.edu
Web Page: www.wcmfund.org