Sports Illustrated called Bill “the winningest coach ever in college soccer” in 1978. He was the first collegiate soccer coach to win 300 games, completing his career with 371 wins and 31 consecutive winning seasons at Lynchburg College. He introduced soccer to the Lynchburg area in 1952, and two years later his Lynchburg Hornets became the fourth team in Virginia to play collegiate soccer. Bill was a coach, professor, and athletic director, and is credited with being a major force in the growth of collegiate soccer. He has been inducted into eight Halls of Fame, including the National Soccer Hall of Fame, was named Coach of the Year 28 times, and was recognized in 1991 by the Virginia General Assembly for his “Unparalleled Record of Achievement”. He also received the NSCAA’s Honor Award.
Pat McStay (Veterans Service - (deceased)) - Inducted 2009
Pat coached in many different capacities during his life. He was a high school coach for 16 years, an assistant coach at Old Dominion University, an ODP coach, and a head coach with Hampton Roads Piranhas for three seasons. He led the Piranhas to a National Championship appearance. Pat also was the Director of Coaching at the Norfolk United and Atlantic Soccer Clubs. He worked as a field producer at the 1994 World Cup in Florida and at the 1996 Olympics. Accepting this award is his wife, Joan, and his son, Pat.
John Ellis (Veterans Service) - Inducted 2007
John was born in England, and during the 1960’s and 70’s was a staff coach for the English Football Association, where he worked with the youth and National teams in developing soccer in Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. He was the Director and Staff Coach for National Coaching Qualifying Courses and the Director of the English Schools Player Development Program. As a coach and player, John also served as the Director of Soccer Coaching and Head Coach to the Combined Military Services of Great Britain. He was head coach of several semi-professional teams while also helping to develop the National team program. He came to the US in the early 1980’s and immersed himself in youth soccer coaching, including leading several teams to National Championships. He was the US Women’s National Team assistant coach when the team won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics and a gold medal at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. John was a member of the VYSA Coaching Education Staff, president of Soccer Academy, Inc., and, in 2001, was recognized by the NSCCA with the “Lifetime Award” for services to youth soccer.
Nelson Kobren (Veterans Service) - Inducted 2006
Nelson was a Washington, DC, native who played tennis and football in high school. He continued playing tennis while on active duty in Germany and earned the title of US Army in Europe tennis champion in 1955. The following year, Nelson and seven others co-founded the D.C. Soccer Referees Association, which later became the Metropolitan Washington Soccer Referees Association. During his 40 years with the MWSRA, he served as Commissioner, Treasurer, President, and Executive Board member. In addition to actively serving as a soccer referee, he was a basketball official and softball umpire. After teaching physical education classes at the University of Maryland at College Park for four years, Nelson taught physical education and driver education at Montgomery Blair High School for 35 years. There he coached successful tennis and soccer teams and served as the Athletic Director. Nelson was inducted into the Maryland State Athletic Directors’ Hall of Fame in 1990. The Nelson Kobren Memorial Gymnasium was dedicated at Montgomery Blair High School in 1998.
Richard White (Veterans Service) - Inducted 2006
Richard was born in England and moved to the United States after World War II, where he played soccer at the University of Florida. In 1961, he played with the British Lions in Washington, DC, and several other teams, and finished his playing career with the Annandale “over 30 gang” in 1991. Richard began his coaching career in 1967 with the Annandale Boys Club 1964 Rebels/Apprentices, who in 1982 won the Maguire Cup in Omaha. He also coached many teams in Annandale, Vista, Braddock Road, Fredericksburg, and Stafford. From 1979 through 1983, Richard coached U16 Boys, U18 Girls, and U16 Girls State Select teams that participated in Region I competition. He retired to Tennessee, where he currently coaches the Adamsville High School boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, as well as Parks and Recreation Department soccer teams.
Sports Illustrated
Kong, and Malaysia. He was the Director and Staff Coach for National Coaching Qualifying Courses and the Director of the English Schools Player Development Program. As a coach and player, John also served as the Director of Soccer Coaching and Head Coach to the Combined Military Services of Great Britain. He was head coach of several semi-professional teams while also helping to develop the National team program. He came to the US in the early 1980’s and immersed himself in youth soccer coaching, including leading several teams to National Championships. He was the US Women’s National Team assistant coach when the team won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics and a gold medal at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. John was a member of the VYSA Coaching Education Staff, president of Soccer Academy, Inc., and, in 2001, was recognized by the NSCCA with the “Lifetime Award” for services to youth soccer.
on active duty in Germany and earned the title of US Army in Europe tennis champion in 1955. The following year, Nelson and seven others co-founded the D.C. Soccer Referees Association, which later became the Metropolitan Washington Soccer Referees Association. During his 40 years with the MWSRA, he served as Commissioner, Treasurer, President, and Executive Board member. In addition to actively serving as a soccer referee, he was a basketball official and softball umpire. After teaching physical education classes at the University of Maryland at College Park for four years, Nelson taught physical education and driver education at Montgomery Blair High School for 35 years. There he coached successful tennis and soccer teams and served as the Athletic Director. Nelson was inducted into the Maryland State Athletic Directors’ Hall of Fame in 1990. The Nelson Kobren Memorial Gymnasium was dedicated at Montgomery Blair High School in 1998.
