Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award
One of the most decorated coaches in the history of US Soccer, Gene Chyzowych, will be honored as the 2014 recipient of the Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, sponsored by the Philadelphia Union at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention in Philadelphia.
The Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually by the Walt Chyzowych Memorial Fund, founded after the 1994 passing of Walt Chyzowych to honor his memory and promulgate his legacy as US Soccer’s National Team Coach and Director of Coaching.
[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’] Gene Chyzowych, Walt’s brother, has retired after 51 years of coaching soccer at Columbia High School (Maplewood, NJ), where his 750+ victories ranks third in the nation all time. “Coach C” has graduated more than 1,500 players, many of whom have continued to coach soccer and follow in his footsteps.
Arriving in America at age 13 from war-torn Europe, Gene quickly found soccer stardom at Philadelphia’s North Catholic High School and later at Temple University from which he graduated in 1963. He played professionally in the US and Canada, and later served as US MNT and Olympic Team Coach in 1973-74.
During the summer of 1970 Gene and 15 other coaches attended the very first US Soccer Federation Coaching School conducted by FIFA Coach, Dettmar Cramer. Cramer granted Gene one of the first “A” licenses and challenging him to spread the “gospel of the game” nationwide.
A member of the NSCAA for over 50 years, Gene Chyzowych’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. He has been National Soccer Coach of the Year on several occasions, was honored by the NSCAA with a Letter of Commendation in 1996 and in 2009 was inducted into the prestigious National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Upon learning that he would be receiving this year’s award Coach C stated, “This is a very special honor. Walt was my brother, but was also my mentor and best friend.
“To be named the 2014 recipient and be included with previous recipients who have made such an incredible impact on US Soccer is both heart-warming and humbling.”
Walt Chyzowych, then head coach at Wake Forest, passed away just before the start of the 1994 soccer season.
The Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented to Gene Chyzowych on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 at 4 p.m. at Field House Sports & Beer Hall, 1150 Filbert St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 (located inside of the Philadelphia Convention Center).
The public is invited to attend and refreshments will be served.
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