Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2012
Neil Covone came to Wake Forest as a Parade All-America high school soccer player seeking to play under the tutelage of legendary head coach Walt Chyzowych. A member of the U-16 and U-19 U.S. National Teams, Covone immediately made his presence felt as a Demon Deacon. He earned third team All-America honors in 1988 and was a first team All-America by Soccer America in 1989. Covone led the Deacons to the 1989 ACC Championship and was named Tournament MVP. He led the Deacons in assists in each of his final three years and set the school record with 20 career assists. Covone was a three-year team captain who was a finalist for the NCAA Top VI Award which recognizes a student's academic scholarship, athletic achievement and citizenship.
Internationally, Covone led the U.S. U-20 team to a fourth place finish in the U-20 World Cup, the best finish in U.S. history at the time. He also helped the USA National Team qualify for the 1990 World Cup and played in the event in Italy. Covone played professionally with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
"Neil is the player, student, and person that has served as our model for the current and future success of the Wake Forest soccer program," said head coach Jay Vidovich. "Neil is the most influential recruit in the history of our program."
Covone graduated from Wake Forest in 1991.
