COACHES HELPING COACHES
MIKE CURRY, Member Since 1995 United Soccer Coaches Foundation, Inc.
The United Soccer Coaches Foundation, Inc. has continued to build its capacity to“ provide financial support for coaching education and other developmental opportunities for United Soccer Coaches members who bring soccer to underserved socioeconomic communities and coaches communities.” The Foundation has 36 endowed funds and has awarded 285 scholarships and grants, and 2,456 memberships since 2006.
FOUNDATION
In 1989, United Soccer Coaches, formerly the NSCAA, established our Foundation Committee. Our Foundation’ s mission is to“ provide financial support for coaching education and other developmental opportunities for United Soccer Coaches members who bring soccer to underserved socioeconomic communities and Advocacy groups.”
Our Foundation firmly believes in the broader societal benefits of soccer as a recreational activity, an avenue for health and fitness, a means of building leadership skills, and a competitive sport. We believe we can provide these benefits through soccer coaching education. Our Legacy Society Members have committed to supporting this endeavor in perpetuity.
Our Foundation’ s primary program activity is direct financial support through grants and scholarships to coaching education programs.
The past year has been a busy one for“ coaches helping coaches.” On June 28, 2024, the Foundation became a separate 501c3 non-profit organization and was renamed the United Soccer Coaches Foundation, Inc. Several members of the Foundation leadership team served as members of the United Soccer Coaches Board Transition Council. They provided administrative and business management support to the United Soccer Coaches Board as the association navigated through a challenging time. In addition, the Foundation provided financial support to help ensure that the association could meet its operational needs.
Our recent convention in Chicago provided an opportunity to celebrate“ coaches helping coaches.” Highlights are mentioned below.
Jeff Vennell, President of the United Soccer Coaches Foundation, Inc. received the William Holleman Award for Meritorious Service. Named in honor of Bill Holleman, who first envisioned and organized the Foundation, the award recognizes an individual or organization that embodies the mission and vision of the Foundation.
Jeff has been a member of United Soccer Coaches since 1972 and has served in a variety of roles. He began his tenure with the NSCAA Board in 1982 and concluded it as President of the association from 1993- 1994. He is an accomplished coach and educator and has published numerous articles in the Soccer Journal and other professional coaching publications. He was presented with the Mike Berticelli Award for Excellence in Coaching Education in 2006 and received the association’ s highest distinction, the Honor Award, in 2007.“ I cherish the opportunity to coach and teach our beautiful game and I have tried to instill in those I coach a love for the game and the responsibility to give back to it to provide others less fortunate to experience how much a simple game can contribute to
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