Wake Forest Athletics
Vidovich Named Chyzowych Achievement Award Winner
1/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 16, 2008
BALTIMORE, Md. - Wake Forest men's soccer head coach Jay Vidovich has been named the 2008 Walt Chyzowych Achievement Award winner, an honor given to distinguished coaches who have been recognized for a lifetime of dedication to preserving the spirit of the game of soccer, advancing its level of play and promoting its growth and development among youth and adults, while supporting the principles of life and sport espoused and exemplified by Walt Chyzowych.
Chyzowych served as US National Team and Olympic Coach and as Director of Coaching for US Soccer. Under Chyzowych's leadership, US Soccer Coaching Schools trained thousands of coaches in a methodology and with a philosophy which now characterizes American soccer. In memory of Walt Chyzowych's life long work and in recognition of his legacy, the Walt Chyzowych Memorial Fund (WCMF) was established shortly after his passing and continues today to honor those like Walt who have dedicated themselves to the Game of Soccer in America.
Jay Vidovich worked side by side with Walt Chyzowych in the early 90's as an assistant coach at Wake Forest. Upon the sudden death of Chyzowych, a day before the 1994 season start, Vidovich was appointed head coach. In a little over ten years, Vidovich has built Wake Forest into one of the top collegiate programs in the US. His hard work paid off this past December as Wake Forest claimed the 2007 NCAA Div.I National Championship.
Vidovich joins an ever growing list of "Who's Who in American Soccer". Past recipients include Jerry Yeagley ('96), Anson Dorrance ('97), Bill Killen ('98), Joe Morrone ('99), Bob Gansler ('00), John McKeon ('01), Mel Lorback ('02), Bruce Arena ('03), Tom Fleck ('04), Joe Machnik ('05), Nick Zlatar ('06), and Lothar Osiander ('07).
The 2008 Walt Chyzowych Memorial Fund (WCMF) Award Ceremony and Reception will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 in Baltimore, in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Annual Convention.
For more information on Walt Chyzowych's life and legacy, as well as the WCMF, please visit http://www.wcmfund.org/.
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