Illinois coach Janet Rayfield wins NSCAA Women’s Soccer Award of Excellence

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Via NSCAA) – University of Illinois head women’s coach and long-time active member, Janet Rayfield, has been recognized as the 2015 NSCAA Women’s Soccer Award of Excellence recipient.

This award is presented by the NSCAA Women’s Membership Advocacy Group and sponsored by the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS). Rayfield will be recognized at the Coaches of Women’s Soccer Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 16 at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore.

“I am both humbled and honored to join the list of men and women who have been recognized by this group,” Rayfield said. “Women’s soccer has been on an unfathomable path of growth and respect, and numerous people have been are part of making that happen. To be recognized for playing a role in that path is truly special.”

Rayfield has left her mark as an educator, a player, and a coach. She has been an active member of the NSCAA since 1991, serving on several committees and on the Association’s Board of Directors before her 2003 term as NSCAA President. She also served as an NSCAA Academy Coaching Staff instructor and is a regular clinician at the annual NSCAA Convention. In 2012, Rayfield became the first female recipient of the prestigious NSCAA Honor Award, the Association’s highest accolade given for lifetime service and commitment to the NSCAA and the game.

Rayfield has been a part of women’s college soccer’s growth since its inception as she began her college soccer career as Anson Dorrance’s first-ever recruit for the University of North Carolina. Her first year as a Tar Heel was the first time in her life that Rayfield practiced on a daily basis and then it wasn’t until her junior year that a nationally recognized championship game even existed.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences from North Carolina in 1983, Rayfield worked as a Senior Software Engineer for E-Systems in Garland, Texas. When she wasn’t working, she was still heavily involved with soccer. Rayfield played seven seasons with the Ladies’ Football Club in Dallas, and was the captain on six of those squads, leading them to three national titles in 1985, 1987, and 1989. During that same time, she was head coach of the Texas Spirit Soccer Club that won several Washington (D.C.) area and Dallas Cup titles.

In 1990, Rayfield returned to the collegiate ranks to coach at the University of Arkansas. After three years as an assistant, she was named head coach at Arkansas in January of 1993. In six seasons with the Razorback program, she coached the 1996 SEC West Champions, two SEC tournament finalists, four All-Region players, six All-SEC players, and 27 Academic All-SEC performers. She also earned a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Biomechanics degree from Arkansas.

In her 13 seasons as head coach of the Fighting Illini, Rayfield established the University of Illinois women’s soccer team as one of the premier programs in the nation. She has led Illinois to the NCAA Tournament in 10 of her 13 seasons at the helm, highlighted by the Illini’s fourth Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2013. Rayfield is a two-time NSCAA Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year (2010-11) and 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

The NSCAA Women’s Soccer Award of Excellence was established in 1999 to recognize those who have brought honor and distinction to women’s soccer. WAGS has supplied sponsorship funds from this award to be used in the promotion of the women’s game through various inner-city programs. Funds also will be donated to charities that promote female soccer participation.