Messersmith, Monaco US Youth Soccer HOF Inductees.
David Messersmith and Lawrence “Larry” Monaco will be inducted into the US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame at the USYSA Awards Gala Friday night, Jan. 28 in Indianapolis.
The Class of 2012 is the sixth to be inducted by US Youth Soccer. Messersmith was selected in the Administrator category, while Monaco will be inducted for Meritorious service.
For more than 30 years, Messersmith has dedicated himself to the development of youth soccer. His commitment and service has been diverse and extensive, and it culminated in his election and service as Pesident of US Youth Soccer from 2000-2006.
He remains active in US Youth Soccer and serves as the current Executive Director of the North Texas Youth State Soccer Association.
He began serving nationally on a variety of US Youth Soccer committees in 1992, and became the first Member at Large on the Board of Directors in 1998. He has served as the youth representative to the US Soccer Foundation Board of Directors since 2000.
Messersmith created a “marketing and sales” department to manage sponsor content, find new sponsor opportunities and manage sponsor activity at US Youth Soccer events. He also began the partnership with Fox Soccer that led to the broadcast of games and US Youth Soccer specific content airing on the channel.
He also helped further the opportunities for players, as he created the Directors Cup, now known as the Presidents Cup, and the National League. The Presidents Cup offers second-tier teams an opportunity to play at the regional and national levels, while the National League provides a single program for the top teams in US Youth Soccer to compete against one another.
Monaco became actively involved in soccer in 1970, when he helped establish “Soccer on the Hill,” the first Washington, D.C. youth soccer league. More than 40 years later, Monaco has record full of service and positions held to further the advancement of youth soccer, as well as soccer at all levels.
He served on the Virginia Youth Soccer Association’s Board of Directors from 1984-1997, including holding the positions of Secretary, Vice President, Adjudication Committee Chair, Finance Committee Chair and Region I Host Committee Chair.
Several years after retiring from the Federal Government, he formed the Soccer Club of Northern Neck (Va) and served as the first president.
He served as President of US Youth Soccer from 2006-2010, having previously been the Vice-President.
Monaco was a member of the United States Soccer Federation Appeals Committee and served as chair of the Federation Rules Committee before being elected and serving as US Soccer Vice-President from 1994-98. He is recognized as a life member of the U.S. Soccer Federation.