KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 31, 2024) – The United Soccer Coaches Foundation announced Thursday that Jeff Vennell has been selected as its 2024 William Holleman Award for Meritorious Service. Vennell will be honored at the annual Foundation Reception on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in conjunction with the association’s 85th annual convention in Chicago, Ill. 

Established in 2018, the award recognizes an individual or organization that embodies the mission and vision of the Foundation, demonstrates philanthropy by paying it forward through time and monetary giving, and has gone above and beyond to help the Foundation’s philanthropic works. It is named in honor of Bill Holleman, who first envisioned the concept of the foundation and helped organize and establish the organization’s charitable arm in 2003. 

“It is a great honor for me to announce this incredible milestone and award for a dear friend of the association in Jeff Vennell,” said Rusty Oglesby, United Soccer Coaches President. “Few people epitomize what a meritorious award winner is like Jeff. His passion, heart and love for this association is unmatched by few people. I marvel at his drive and service. But to call him a friend is special. Congratulations to Jeff on this outstanding achievement.”

Jeff Vennell epitomizes leadership. There are not many leadership titles in the association he has not held.

From 1983 to 1993, he held a position on the then-National Soccer Coaches Association of America Board of Directors culminating with a year as President in 1993.

In addition, Vennell has been recognized by the association with its Mike Berticelli Excellence in Coaching Education Award in 2006 and the 2007 Honor Award, recognizing the career of a member, with emphasis on service to the association that has enhanced the coaching profession and contributed to the game as a whole.

Vennell utilized all his knowledge and skill to help direct the association to a clearer path during its recent difficult experience. All his years of leading athletes, coaches, and administrators to positive outcomes were an asset for the association.

“It is an honor to be recognized as this year’s recipient of the Holleman Award,” said Vennell. “I’ve enjoyed my service fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of helping our members to enhance their soccer coaching knowledge. It is especially rewarding to be recognized by my Foundation colleagues.”

A graduate of Springfield College and the University of Massachusetts, he spent one year teaching and then a two-year stint in the military. As an assistant to the athletics director, and soccer coach at Williams College he assumed responsibilities of budgeting, scheduling, game administration and facility management. While at Williams, he was instrumental in beginning the women’s soccer program.

He then moved on to Kenyon College as Athletic Director (establishing a women’s soccer program there as well) and on to the University of Rochester. There he oversaw 22 intercollegiate sports (including the inauguration of a women’s soccer program), 500 athletes, a full intramural program of 4,000 athletes, a college club sports program, and a recreation activity structure. All of that was just the human side of his leadership skills, there was a budgetary side that he needed to spend time on and manage to get the most out of every dollar in the budget and from the donations that needed to be raised.

He finished his career in athletic administration at Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. He was involved in school, fund-raising and advisory committees. He also wrote communication handbooks for student-athletes and parent coaches.

He has written and been the co-author of numerous articles, sharing his knowledge of motivation, tactics, skills, and practice planning.