KANSAS CITY, MO. (Nov. 10, 2022) — United Soccer Coaches announced on Thursday the recipients of the association’s 2022 Long-Term Service awards for college, high school, and youth soccer.The awards are presented annually to members who have exhibited a career of contributions to the sport at their level and a commitment to service to the association. Bob Gray (College), Gary Montalto (High School), and Vicki Sanford (Youth) are this year’s recipients.“Congratulations to Vicki, Bob, and Gary for being recognized for their long-term service to the game at their respective levels,” said Ashlee Fontes-Comber. “It is an honor for us to award them for their career commitment to serving and advancing soccer and our association. We are forever appreciative for their service.”The honorees will be presented their awards at the annual United Soccer Coaches Awards Banquet, scheduled for Friday, January 13, 2023, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, in conjunction with the association’s 2023 83rd annual convention, January 11-15, in Philadelphia.Bob Gray | Barboursville, W.Va. Bill Jeffrey College Long-Term Service Award
A United Soccer Coaches member since 1978, Gray retired as the Head Men’s Coach at Marshall University in 2016 after 22 years. He previously served in the same capacity at the University of Mobile (1992-94) and his alma mater Alderson-Broaddus College (1978-91). He compiled a career record of 445-204-40 including five national tournament appearances and was named National Coach of the Year in 1991. But it was his service to the college game that endeared himself to colleagues.He was a former President of the NAIA Men’s Soccer Coaches Association where he was a leader in a number of initiatives that changed the way players and coaches were selected for postseason honors, how teams were seeded and bracketed for the national tournament and created the NAIA’s first Senior Bowl All Star Game. In 1994, Gray was selected to coach for the World Cup Special Olympics held at Princeton, N.J. and in 2001 he was awarded the NSCAA National Merit Award from NISOA.Gray organized and administered the annual Major League Soccer College Player Combine in Florida for many years prior to the league’s annual player draft. He was also active teaching coaching courses as Director of Coaching for West Virginia Youth Soccer and as a member of the teaching staff for what was then the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.The Trenton, N.J., native is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, the Alderson-Broaddus Athletic Hall of Fame, the Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame, and the West Virginia Youth Soccer Hall of Fame.Gary Montalto | Lewes, Del.Robert W. Robinson High School Long-Term Service Award
A member since 1980, Montalto spent 31 years as the varsity boys coach at Arlington High School in Lagrangeville, N.Y. (1979-2009) and another three at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, Del. (2011-13) where he still serves as a volunteer assistant in retirement. He was named a State High School Coach of the Year five times, Regional Coach of the Year four times and in 2006 the United Soccer Coaches National Coach of the Year for large public schools in 2006Montalto served for more than 20 years on New York State Boys Soccer committees for rankings, all-state and coach of the year programs and was on the state’s Section 1 Boys Soccer Committee for 17 years including 10 years as the chairman. On a national basis he was a region representative on the National Rankings Committee for 21 years and was the East Region Chair for the United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) National Coach of the Year selection committee.Gary was dedicated to both attending and then later presenting coaching education courses in his state after receiving the NSCAA National Diploma and numerous high school coaching certificates at the annual convention over the years. He loved sharing his knowledge with fellow coaches and giving back to local youth soccer clubs and to the state ODP program in New York. He was inducted in the New York State High School Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2013, and the Arlington High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.Vicki Sanford | Brentwood, Tenn.Charlotte Moran Youth Long-Term Service Award
A member since 1995, Sanford’s dedication to serving United Soccer Coaches continues as an active contributor to the association’s annual convention and awards program. She has served as a Convention Assistant Program Manager for 25 years helping with the event’s vast number of educational field and classroom sessions. She has also been the Youth Girls All-America National Chair for 20 years, coordinating that program’s player selection. She served on the Local Organizing Committee for the 1997 National Convention in Nashville.Locally, Sanford started the first teams for girls in her local Brentwood (Tenn.) Soccer Club in 1988 and later was named Director of Coaching for the same organization, where she served in that position for 13 years. She has been a Tennessee Soccer Olympic Development coach. She was the first woman to ever serve on the US Club Soccer Board of Directors.Nationally, Sanford has previously been recognized by United Soccer Coaches with Certificates of Appreciation on two occasions and its Letter of Commendation award. Locally, she was presented with the Jane Olinger Award for service by the Brentwood Soccer Club, has been a Tennessee Soccer State Coach of the Year, and is a member of Tennessee Soccer’s Hall of Fame.
