KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 17, 2022) – United Soccer Coaches announced the recipients of the 2022 Coaches Communities Awards of Excellence on Thursday.The recipients will be honored during the annual Advocacy Hour Reception at 4:00 pm on Friday, January 13, 2023, and the annual Women’s Soccer Coaches Breakfast at 8:00 am on Saturday, January 14, 2023, during the 83rd annual United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.The Coaches Communities Awards of Excellence honor an individual, organization or other entity that has shown a commitment and outstanding work on behalf of the values of each respective group, meeting the association’s highest ideals of inclusion and diversity in the game.The recipients of this year’s Coaches Communities Awards of Excellence are:Asian/Pacific Islander Coaches Award of Excellence – Tiffany Roberts SahaydakBlack Coaches Award of Excellence – Kendall ReyesDisabilities Allies Award of Excellence – Stuart SharpFaith-Based Coaches Award of Excellence – John B. OrozcoLatino Coaches Award of Excellence – Cynthia CervantesLGBTQ+ & Allies Award of Excellence – Yunio MartinezNative American Coaches Award of Excellence – NB3 FoundationWomen Coaches Award of Excellence – Staci Wilson
Tiffany Roberts SahaydakAPI Coaches Award of Excellence
As one of the few API heritage players to ever play for the US Women’s National Team, Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak has inspired many more people than she realizes as a champion on and off the field. Her achievements were legendary as a player. She earned numerous scholastic and youth accolades at Carondelet High School, the San Ramon Soccer Club, and the Alcosta Lighting. The honors continued in her collegiate career at the University of North Carolina, winning four Atlantic Coast Championships for the Tar Heels and two NCAA National titles. Then came international success with US Women’s National Team championships at the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 FIFA World Cup. Even her professional career included a WUSA Championship with the Carolina Courage. As a collegiate coach, she was one coach of the year honors at both Virginia Commonwealth and currently with the University of Central Florida, where she continues to inspire many through leadership and passion for the game. She is currently one of only four NCAA Division I head coaches with an API background. She is a dedicated member of United Soccer Coaches API Coaches Community who continues to inspire many and becomes a most deserving recipient of this year’s Award of Excellence.
Kendall ReyesBlack Coaches Award of Excellence
A member of United Soccer Coaches since 1997, Kendall Reyes has been an athlete, coach, educator, and talented administrator in a variety of business and educational leadership positions. He has been a dedicated member and advocate for black soccer coaches through his involvement with the association’s Black Soccer Coaches Community since its inception. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Reyes migrated to the United States on a soccer scholarship to Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., where he served as captain all four years, and earning conference and most valuable player honors. He began coaching as an assistant while completing his graduate studies and then became a successful head coach for 17 years at other NCAA programs. He has served United Soccer Coaches as a coaching educator since 1998, conducting numerous courses and clinics. He also has conducted coaching education programs in the Caribbean and several African countries.
Stuart SharpDisabilities Allies Award of Excellence
A native of Scotland, Stuart Sharp joined U.S. Soccer in 2014 as head coach of the U.S. Paralympic National Teams, which features players with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, or traumatic brain injuries. Since then, the federation has added programs for Men’s and Women’s Deaf National Teams and the co-ed Power Soccer National Teams. Sharp has been one of the main driving forces behind the tremendous growth of disabilities programing so that all can play at the highest levels. He has worked tirelessly to develop funding and streamlined processes for these teams to be supported under U.S. Soccer with in its Extended National Teams program. Previously, Sharp worked as a National Development Manager for the Scottish FA, where he created, delivered, and developed an elite football structure for disability groups. He has become a worldwide leader working with organizations such as the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy (IFCPF), BlazeSports America and FIFA to grow the game in all forms for all people. Sharp accepted the 2017 United Soccer Coaches Honorary All-America Award on behalf of the U.S. Paralympic National Team.
John B. OrozcoFaith-Based Coaches Award of Excellence
John B. Orozco, a United Soccer Coaches member since 1998 and a volunteer for many years at the annual convention, is the Boys Varsity Soccer Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Toledo Christian School in Ohio. He serves as President of the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association and is known statewide for leading his team with the utmost class and respect honoring the faith of his school’s Christian foundation. His philosophy to pursue his faith first leads his athletes to do the same. His program emphasizes devotionals, daily prayer, and a leadership development program rooted in Christ. Most notably, Orozco is recognized by opposing coaches as leading young men whose strong character is demonstrated through the way they play, the way they speak to one another, and the respect shown to opponents through victory or loss. His lasting impact goes beyond the game, instilling faith driven character in young men that that will serve them and the community.
Cynthia CervantesLatino Coaches Award of Excellence
Cynthia Cervantes has quickly became an inspiration, leader and mentor at a young age in her Latino community in El Paso, Texas, and recently was named the head coach at Mojave Community College in Bullhead City, Ariz. She previously served in the same position at Western Texas Community College in El Paso, Director of Coaching for Juventus FC and an ODP coach for New Mexico Youth Soccer. A Master’s degree graduate in Recreation and Sports Science at Ohio University, she is a former member of the United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 program. Cervantes has a strong feeling of giving back to her heritage, teaching coaching education courses in Texas and New Mexico. She also balances her busy soccer coaching activities with being a young mother and credits her introduction to the beautiful game to her father who has been battling dementia since 2020. She has collaborated with United Soccer Coaches as a member of its Latino Coaches Community by writing for Soccer Journal in Spanish and appearing on its podcasts. One of her professional mentors is former USWNT star Brandi Chastain, with whom she serves as an assistant coach with the United States Western Region ODP program.
Yunio MartinezLGBTQ+ & Allies Coaches Award of Excellence
Yunio Martinez, a native of Guatemala and now coaching youth soccer in suburban Philadelphia, is the 2022 United Soccer Coaches LGBTQ+ Award of Excellence. Martinez started playing soccer when he was seven years old, and he credits the sport for getting him through his younger years in the game when he was constantly bullied and discriminated against because he was gay. He immigrated to the United States and has gotten involved in any way he can to make sure new generations of LGBTQ+ athletes have a safe place to play the game. He understands that he may not be able to change the attitudes of people in the world but knows he can make a difference by educating organizers, coaches, referees, and others by supporting initiatives that stand against hate and encourage diversity in the world’s most beautiful game. He is proud to be a part of the association’s LGBTQ+ & Allies Coaches Community and this year’s award winner.
NB3 FoundationNative American Coaches Award of Excellence
The Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation is a national, award-winning Native-led nonprofit organization dedicated to Native American children’s health. The mission is to ensure Native children achieve their full potential by advancing cultures of Native American community health. The NB3 Foundation invests in community-driven and culturally rooted programs that promote healthy nutrition, physical activity, youth development and cultural connections. They are committed to a vision that all children live healthy, happy, and fulfilled lives. The NB3 Foundation serves native American youth and communities through programming, national grantmaking and evaluation and research. Soccer for Native American children is among the activities funded in communities to meet their mission. The Foundation was founded and named for the professional golfer and television network golf analyst, who played collegiately at Stanford University alongside college teammate Tiger Woods.
Staci WilsonWomen Coaches Award of Excellence
Staci Wilson of The Pine School and Hobe Sound Soccer Club in Stuart, Fla., is the 2022 recipient of the United Soccer Coaches Women’s Soccer Award of Excellence, joining 23 previous honorees who have provided long-term service to women’s soccer for both the association and the game. Wilson played at the University of North Carolina, winning Soccer America Freshman of the Year, three national championships, and earning All-America honors. Additionally, she was part of the 1996 US Women’s National Team that won the inaugural women’s soccer Olympic gold medal. Wilson stays busy coaching four teams (U9 Boys, U13 Girls, U14 Boys, and high school boys) while assisting two others (U10 Boys, U11 Boys) and educating her club’s volunteer coaches. She offers private training, workshops, and consulting services through her business, Fit for Her. She gives back to the sport that changed her life through charitable organizations that target females, racial minorities, and underserved youth communities. Wilson was a member of the NSCAA High School All-American teams in the 1990s and began her journey as a coach with the organization in 2008. She is an instructor for the United Soccer Coaches Sports Performance Diploma and a frequent presenter at the association’s annual Convention.