Announcement

**Unregistered** · 03-07-2009, 08:47 PM

Yep....

Spring is coming!

**Unregistered** · 03-08-2009, 02:35 AM

Great news

Sure, here is some GREAT news for Michigan. For the first time ever a coach from Michigan has been selected as a US Youth Soccer National Coach of the Year! Also, only for the second time in history was a female coach selected as the girls competitive coach of the year.

MIRIAM HICKEY we are so proud of you! Well done and congratulations!

NEWS RELEASE:

US Youth Soccer adidas Girls and Boys Competitive Coaches of the Year Named

Michigan�s Miriam Hickey and Indiana�s Isang Jacob honored at Awards Gala

SAN JOSE, Calif. (March 6, 2009) - The recipients of the 2008 US Youth Soccer adidas Competitive Coach of the Year award for Boys and Girls were announced tonight at the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala, held in conjunction with the 2009 US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. The national adidas Competitive Coaches of the Year award winners were Miriam Hickey of Troy, Mich., (Girls) and Isang Jacob of Indianapolis, Ind., (Boys).

Hilary Kennedy, host of The US Youth Soccer Show on Fox Soccer Channel, set the stage for the night as the master of ceremonies for the more than 1,000 in attendance. Recreation Coach of the Year, Administrator of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Goal and Save of the Year, Male and Female Young Referee of the Year and the Dr. Thomas Fleck Award were also presented during the Gala and the US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame inductees were honored as well.

Miriam Hickey, of Troy, Mich., is the Vardar East girls coaching director and as coach of three winning teams, Hickey demonstrates that development comes first. Personally, she has attained her USSF �A� License and National Youth License. Her experience involves 20 years of coaching including US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Region II staff coach, college coach and coach of the Netherlands National Team. Hickey commands dedication and holds her teams accountable to always try their best and strive for improvement.

Isang Jacob, of Indianapolis, Ind., builds fine young men first and skilled soccer players second. His players must excel at school, complete community service and work hard to earn a spot on the field. Through this dedication, Jacob led his Indy Burn 90 Premier Eagles to seven consecutive US Youth Soccer Indiana State Championships. All of his 2008 graduates play in college, 17 of them at Division I schools. His greatest accomplishment is having all former players enrolled and succeeding in college, whether or not they play soccer. The USSF �A� License and National Youth License coach also serves as the head Indiana US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program coach.

Recipients of the Competitive Coach of the Year awards are selected by the US Youth Soccer Board of Directors on the basis of sportsmanship, player development, personal coaching development and community involvement (citizenship).

The regional winners of the 2008 US Youth Soccer adidas Girls' Competitive Coaches of the Year are:
Region I Michael Crocco Stamford Connecticut Junior Soccer Association
Region II Miriam Hickey* Troy Michigan State Youth Soccer Association
Region III Pete Sadin Raleigh North Carolina Youth Soccer Association
Region IV Tad Boback Laguna Niguel California South Youth Soccer Association

The regional winners of the 2008 US Youth Soccer adidas Boys� Competitive Coaches of the Year are:

Region I Richard J. Frongillo Franklin Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association
Region II Isang Jacob* Indianapolis Indiana Youth Soccer Association
Region III Patrick Zoete Wellington Florida Youth Soccer Association
Region IV Emerson Robbins Shoreline Washington State Youth Soccer Association

*denotes national US Youth Soccer adidas Competitive Coach of the Year

For bios on each of the regional award winners, click here.

These coaches have committed to continued education and self-sacrifice to give back to the sport they love with the hope that they might enhance one of their players abilities and quality of life. US Youth Soccer and adidas are proud to highlight these Competitive Coaches of the Year for their time and efforts in contributing to America�s youth through the great game of soccer. By promoting teamwork, discipline, fitness and fair play these coaches are making a difference.

For more information about the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala and award winners, go to USYouthSoccer.org/workshop/galaawards.