NEWS

CHANGE OF VENUE: The Walt Chyzowych Fund Awards Ceremony and Reception will now be held in the Tower Room of the Marriott Hotel.

WILLY ROY AND 1980 U.S. MEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM HONORED

The Walt Chyzowych Fund of the United Soccer Coaches Foundation has announced that former US Men’s National Team player, NASL All-Star and Chicago Sting Coach, Willie Roy is the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. Also being honored with the Distinguished Playing Career Award are members of the US Men’s 1980 Olympic Team coached by Walt Chyzowych and Bob Gansler, which qualified for the Olympic Finals tournament in Moscow only to be prevented from participating due to the USA boycott of those games.

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Willy Roy emigrated to the United States with his family as a thirteen-year-old. He earned All-American Honors at the University of Illinois, made 20 appearances for the United States National Team and was head coach of the NASL Chicago Sting. Roy also had a fifteen-year career at Northern Illinois University and was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989.

Upon being notified of his selection as a Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Willy Roy said, “I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award. I had the opportunity to play against Walt Chyzowych years ago. I knew that his hard work on the field and his commitment to coaching was a belief we both shared. I consider myself very fortunate to be part of this group of honored past recipients. I would like to acknowledge and thank my family, my teammates, my players and my colleagues over the years who supported me during my playing and coaching career and thank the Walt Chyzowych Fund for all it is doing to support the continued growth and development of soccer in the United States.”

While the 1980 Men's Olympic Team was not permitted to participate in the finals, they were awarded special medals by President Jimmy Carter at a White House ceremony on July 30, 1980.

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Speaking for his teammates, 1980 Olympic Team Captain Perry Van Der Beck said, “It was such an honor to be a member of a team that was selected to represent the US on the world stage at such a high level. I have wonderful memories of Coaches Chyzowych and Gansler preparing us for qualification with a commitment to making our country proud. I cannot wait to see my teammates again and relive the memories. Thank you to the Walt Chyzowych Fund for getting us together again.”

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Among the players expected to be in Chicago at the Walt Chyzowych Award Ceremony and Reception are Perry Van Der Beck, Ty Keough, goalkeeper Peter Arnautoff, Bill McKeon, Aldophus “Doc” Lawson, John Hayes, Tim Clark, Dave McWilliams, Angelo DiBernardo, Daryl Gee, Greg Villa, John Lignos, Louie Nanchoff, Bernie James, George Nanchoff and Larry Hulcer.

The Walt Chyzowych Award Ceremony and Reception is supported by Capelli Sport, its principal donor. The event is scheduled for 4PM on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Marriott Hotel in the Tower Room. Light refreshments will be served and the public is welcome!

2024 AWARD RECIPIENTS - LESLE GALLIMORE, BRANDI CHASTAIN, PAUL CALIGIURI

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).

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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).

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2023 AWARD RECIPIENTS - RALPH LUNDY & 1973 NASL PHILADELPHIA ATOMS

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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.

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2022 AWARD RECIPIENTS - ESSE BAHARMAST & RICK DAVIS

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Esse Baharmast, former US Soccer, MISL, MLS and FIFA Referee and Referee Instructor received the 2022 Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award.

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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.

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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

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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

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LIVE AUCTION

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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).

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