United Soccer Coaches honor Felicity Day with Coaching Education Award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches announced the selection of Felicity Day as the 2022 Mike Berticelli Excellence in Coaching Education Award recipient for her outstanding contributions teaching coaches and her service to the game.

Day, a longtime United Soccer Coaches coach educator, becomes the 23rd person to receive the prestigious recognition from her peers. The award is named in honor of Mike Berticelli, the former United Soccer Coaches Vice President of Education and men’s coach at the University of Notre Dame who passed away in 2000. Day serves as Coach Developer for many of the association’s educational courses in Massachusetts and across the country.

“Being named the recipient of the Mike Berticelli award is quite an honor,” said Vince Ganzberg, United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching education. “Felicity has been a member of the United Soccer Coaches instructional team for 19 years. During this time, she has always presented outstanding content to all of the coaches she has been in front of. While her delivery of content is outstanding, it’s her demeanor and professionalism that is most prevalent. Her receiving this award solidifies her standing as one of the best coaching educators for United Soccer Coaches.”

In addition to giving her time to the association, Day is the Vice President of Steel Experience and a coach developer at Steel Sports, as well as the head coach of the 2009 Girls Steel United Boston. In her spare time, she volunteers with Athletes Unlimited (MA), an organization that runs soccer programs for children with disabilities.

Day’s professional experience spans many roles over the course of 20+ years, including player for Arsenal Ladies in London (1998-99), head women’s soccer coach at Nichols College (1998-2001), Owner and Director of Coaching at John Smith Soccer Academy in (2002-18), head girls soccer coach at Weston High School (2007-09), and Director of Education at FCUSA Soccer Club (2018-20).

Day has been a member of the association since 1998. A longtime student of the game, Day has earned her United Soccer Coaches Master Coach Diploma/University of Delaware Master Coach Certificate, the highest diploma offered by the association. Additionally, she has earned her UEFA ‘C’ license and USSF ‘C’ license.

The Berticelli Award will be presented at the association’s Awards Banquet on Friday, January 13, in conjunction with the 83rd annual United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.