Pantalione, Waters, Daniel receive NSCAA Long Term Service Awards

(Via NSCAA) – The National Soccer Coaches Association of America annually honors three individuals who have elevated the game at the college, high school, or youth levels through their long-term service to the Association and the game.

This year, the NSCAA recognizes Michael Pantalione for his contributions to college soccer as the Bill Jeffrey Award recipient; Larry Waters for his contributions to high school soccer as the Robert W. Robinson Award recipient; and Jacob Daniel for his contributions to youth soccer as the Charlotte Moran Award recipient.

The three honorees will be presented their award at the 2016 NSCAA Awards Banquet, Friday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore, Md. Tickets for the NSCAA Awards Banquet can be purchased online, along with attendee registration.

Michael Pantalione – Bill Jeffrey Long-Term Service Award (College)
Pantalione is the first Junior College coach to receive the Bill Jeffrey Long-Term Service Award. The 2015 season marked his 27th year as Yavapai’s first and only head men’s soccer coach. Under his direction, Yavapai developed the most successful Junior College soccer program in the nation, capturing 73 championships including seven national championships, 18 final four finishes, a combined 41 region and district championships along with 25 conference titles. He currently has the best winning percentage of any collegiate men’s soccer coach (574-50-27/.904) and is the all-time leader in Junior College wins (574).

At the 2015 NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Pantalione was awarded the NSCAA Letter of Commendation, presented for unusual achievement that clearly exceeds performance requirements, expectations and contributions beneficial to the NSCAA and soccer in the United States. He was also presented the NSCAA/NISOA National Merit Honor (1995) and the NJCAA National Service Award (2012), and was the first active coach elected to the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame. His additional honors include seven NJCAA and five NSCAA National Coach of the Year Awards along with being named NSCAA West Region Coach of the Year 17 times.

A native of Philadelphia and a former goalkeeper, Pantalione previously coached soccer at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University of Montana, Kenyon College (Ohio), Jesuit High School (Ore.), and Archbishop Wood High School (Pa.). He is a graduate of the University of Montana.

Pantalione has directed and coached various summer soccer camps across the nation. In 1980, he was named national soccer coach of the year by Special Olympics, Inc. of Washington, D.C. He is a 38-year member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and has served 19 years as the National Chair for the NJCAA and NSCAA Junior College Men’s Division I soccer rankings.

Larry Waters – Robert W. Robinson Long-Term Service Award (High School), supported by the America Youth Soccer Organization
Waters is retired following 40 years of service to the high school game as either a coach, teacher, or administrator. He most recently was the athletic director at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M. In his 27 years on the sidelines, he amassed a 421-119-13 record, seven state championships, 16 district championships, and qualified for the state tournament 24 of 27 years.

Waters worked with the New Mexico State Athletic Association and Albuquerque Public Schools to establish soccer intramural programs in 1979, and he was instrumental in helping negotiate the first soccer state championship tournament in 1981. Waters also served on the NFHS Rules Committee for high school soccer from 2007-10.

Waters and two others were responsible for creating the NSCAA High School Rankings Committee in 1985, and he continues to serve as the Far West regional representative and National Chair. His other NSCAA service includes the High School Academic All-America Committee, the High School Coach of the Year Committee, and the Robert W. Robinson Committee until last year. He has been an NSCAA member for 30 years.

Waters has been named an NSCAA Coach of the Year (2008), an NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year five times, and the Albuquerque Public High School Coach of the Year. He also received the NSCAA Certificate of Merit (2004) and the NSCAA Letter of Commendation (2011), in addition to numerous honors awarded by New Mexico state athletic organizations.

The Robert W. Robinson Long Term Service Award is supported by the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), an organization dedicated to providing world class youth soccer programs that enriches children’s lives. Find out more about AYSO at www.ayso.org.

Jacob Daniel – Charlotte Moran Long-Term Service Award (Youth)
Daniel has been a member of the NSCAA since 1990 and has held the position of state director of coaching for Georgia Soccer for 23 years. He is the longest serving state DOC for the same state in the country, while also serving as the Region III Boys ODP technical director and a Region III ODP staff member.

In his position as the director of coaching for Georgia Soccer, Daniel has had significant impact. Under his leadership, coaching course enrollment in Georgia has increased ten-fold from 250 in 1992 to 2,500 in 2001. Daniel successfully campaigned in the 1990s to implement mandatory licenses for youth coaches in Georgia, including all recreational and competitive coaches. Daniel also pushed for adoption of small-sided soccer in 1994, making Georgia one of the first states to mandate 3v3 at U6 and 4v4 at U8, and later, 6v6 at U10 and 8v8 at U12.

In his position as the Region III Boys ODP Technical Director, Daniel implemented an ODP integration process for the state and region ODP, instituting a region wide consistent playing style and training curriculum. It has now been adopted by all four Regional ODP (boys and girls), as well as by state associations across the country. Daniel authored the ODP Coaching Manual and the ODP Player Manual, and both are now the official US Youth Soccer ODP Manuals.

Also under Daniel’s stewardship, Georgia’s ODP has dramatically increased the number of players selected to the regional and national teams. In 1993, the number of Georgia players selected to the regional pools was 25. By 2014, the number climbed to 121. The number of players invited to national team camps at various age groups jumped from an average of three per year to 10 per year.

Daniel holds the NSCAA Premier Diploma, as well as the USSF ‘A’ License and National Youth licenses. He has been an advocate for NSCAA coaching education in Georgia and a leader in a partnership with the association in the state.