What is it?
This award is the most prestigious award bestowed on a Kansas Youth Soccer Member can receive during a given seasonal year. It is presented by the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association President and Executive Director to an individual(s) who serves with integrity, honor, humor and humility. They have demonstrated a lifetime of dedication to coaching, administrating, refereeing, and educating young participants in a youth soccer community within the state of Kansas. They have made significant contributions to youth participants on and off the field by instilling the principlesof good sportsmanship, development of the participant, and promotion of the game of soccer within Kansas. The recipient and the immediate members of their family will be the guest of honor at the Kansas Youth Soccer Awards Gala.
The first ever recipient of the award is Mr. Francisco “Frank” X. Alonso, Manhattan High School Head Coach and Sporting Kaw Valley Club Coach, for his decades of service to developing soccer in Manhattan, Kansas at all levels and impacting the lives of thousands of player until his passing on November 4, 2018 at the young age of 52. He will be missed by many but his legacy on soccer within Kansas will now live on forever.
2019: Ernesto Alcantara – Wichita, Kansas
— 19 Years of Coaching & counting
— Director & Head Coach of Kansas Rush Wichita Jr. Academy
— 2008-2017 Kansas ODP Boys & Girls Coach
— 2009 Midwest ODP Regional Volunteer Assistant Coach for 18U Girls team in Brazil
— 2018 Kansas State Cup Champion – 19U Girls
— Continual Success of having players committed to play college soccer at all divisional levels & at one time had 100% of his team committed to college programs
2018: Frank X. Alonso – Manhattan, Kansas
— Winningest Coach in MHS Soccer Program History with 225 Wins; 110 Loses; 17 Draws
— Record setting 18 winning seasons in program history
— Finalists: 6 Sub-State & 2 Regional
— Championships: 9 Regional & 3 Sub-State
— 6A State Championships: 2013 State Finalist; 2017 3rd Place Finish; 2018 State Finalist
— 2018 Centennial League Coach of the Year
— 2018 KSHSAA 6A All State Coach of the Year
— 2019 Kansas Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee