NEWS
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).
