NEWS
WALT CHYZOWYCH FUND 2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Each year at the United Soccer Coaches Convention, the Walt Chyzowych Fund Award Ceremony and Reception honors the Lifetime Achievement of a leading soccer coach and the Distinguished Playing Careers of men and women national and Olympic team players.
Over the next several weeks, the Walt Chyzowych Fund will announce the Lifetime Achievement Honoree and Distinguished Players to be honored.
This year’s Walt Chyzowych Fund Event takes place in Chicago at the United Soccer Coaches Convention on Saturday afternoon, January 11, 2025. The Event is supported through individual and corporate donations and the support of its principal donor Capelli Sport. The Walt Chyzowych Fund Award Ceremony and Reception is open to the public and is regularly attended by hundreds of coaches, former Walt Chyzowych Award winners, media representatives and dignitaries from throughout the world of domestic and international soccer.
On behalf of the Walt Chyzowych Fund, acknowledging its continued support and with anticipation of the celebration of the historic coming together of two great organizations in support of coaching at all levels of soccer, we hope to see you in Chicago in January!
WAKE FOREST WALT CHYZOWYCH CLINIC
The annual Walt Clinic at Wake Forest University will take place on Friday, August 16th at Spry Stadium from 5:30pm-6:45pm for Boys and Girls ages 6-13. A great night of soccer, to honor former Wake Forest Univeristy coach Walt Chyzowych, will include all the WFU Soccer Players and Coaching Staff.
All proceeds will go towards the Walt Chyzowych Fund that assists young coaches across America in obtaining coaching education.
For additional information and to sign up for the Walt Clinic.
LESLE GALLIMORE, BRANDI CHASTAIN, PAUL CALIGIURI HONORED
Held in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Annual Convention in Anaheim, CA, the Walt Chyzowych Fund presented Lesle Gallimore with its Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award with Brandi Chastain and Paul Caligiuri receiving the WCF Distinguished Playing Career Award. Presenters were Amy Griffin (Lesle), Jill Ellis (Brandi), and Seamus Malin (Paul).
Also in attendance were former Lifetime Achievement Award winners Esse Baharmast (2022), Lincoln Phillips (2020), Jill Ellis (2020), John Kowalski (2018) and, of course, Dr. Joe Machnik (2005).
2023 AWARD RECIPIENTS - RALPH LUNDY & 1973 NASL PHILADELPHIA ATOMS
In addition to our honorees, we had the privilege of welcoming Cindy Cone, President of U.S. Soccer; Jeff Vennell, recipient of the National Coaches Association 2023 Honor Award; Paul Caligiuri, former USNMT member; and former Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award winners John Kowalski (2018), Al Miller (2019), Lincoln Phillips (2020) and Tom Fleck's (2004) daughter, Mary Beth, who was joined in a photo with Fred Grguev and Boris Bandov, both former members of the NY Cosmos and the USMNT.
2022 AWARD RECIPIENTS - ESSE BAHARMAST & RICK DAVIS
Esse Baharmast, former US Soccer, MISL, MLS and FIFA Referee and Referee Instructor received the 2022 Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ricky Davis, a former US Men’s National Team and New York Cosmos player received a WCF Distinguished Playing Career Award, the third such award given to an individual player after Landon Donavan and Michelle Akers.
2021 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT BOB BRADLEY
Robert F. “Bob” Bradley, former U.S. Men’s National Team Coach, and current Coach of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) of Major League Soccer (MLS) was the recipient of the 27th Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award.
2020 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS - JILL ELLIS AND LINCOLN PHILLIPS
Jill Ellis, former US Women's National Team Coach and two time winner of the FIFA Women's World Cup and Lincoln Phillips, former goalkeeper for the Trinidad & Tobago National Team, several NASL teams and Coach of Howard University's NCAA Championship teams of 1971 & 1974 were the recipients of the 2020 Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award.
Presented in Baltimore, Maryland in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Association, the WALT CHYZOWYCH AWARD RECEPTION AND CEREMONY was sponsored by Capelli Sport.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST AWARD CEREMONIES
2019 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - AL MILLER
2019 DISTINGUISHED PLAYING CAREER AWARD - MICHELLE AKERS
2018 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - JOHN KOWALSKI
2018 - DISTINGUISHED PLAYING CAREER AWARD
Two Kowalski-coached teams — the 1989 and 1992 U.S. National Five-a-Side (futsal) teams that finished third and second, respectively, in FIFA international competition — were presented with Walt Chyzowych Distinguished Playing Career Awards.
2017 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - JAY HOFFMAN
2017 DISTINGUISHED PLAYING CAREER AWARD - LANDON DONOVAN
LIVE AUCTION
Also in attendance were former Lifetime Achievement Award winners Esse Baharmast (2022), Lincoln Phillips (2020), Jill Ellis (2020), John Kowalski (2018) and, of course, Dr. Joe Machnik (2005).
