Indiana University Athletics
Jerry Yeagley Selected to NSCAA Hall of Fame
12/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Dec. 18, 2007
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has selected legendary Indiana University coach Jerry Yeagley and Paul "Sandy" Sanderson, whose tireless efforts help grow the association at the high school level, as the 43rd and 44th members of its Hall of Fame.
"I am thrilled and deeply honored to receive this award," Yeagley said. "This is an award shared with every player who has worn an IU uniform and every coach who has assisted me over the years. This award belongs to Indiana University and the soccer family. I am proud to have been a caretaker of the program."
Yeagley began his remarkable coaching career at the helm of the men's club team at Indiana in 1963. After 10 years and a record of 78-25-7, the team was elevated to varsity status, beginning a run that is unparalleled in men's intercollegiate soccer. During Yeagley's 31 years as varsity coach the Hoosiers compiled a 544-101-45 record, made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances and won six national titles. In the first 13 years that the Big Ten held a conference championship, Yeagley's team claimed 10 titles.
"There is no one more deserving of this honor," said Indiana University Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan. "Jerry's dedication and vision made Indiana Soccer what it is today and we are thrilled for him and his family that the NSCAA has chosen to recognize his accomplishments."
A six-time NSCAA National Coach of the Year, he has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year eight times, record totals for both awards. He received the NSCAA's Bill Jeffrey Award, recognizing long-term service to intercollegiate soccer, in 1987, and the association's Honor Award in 1997. He concluded his tenure at Indiana in 2003 with an 18-match unbeaten streak on the way to his sixth NCAA title. Under his direction, Indiana players have been named NSCAA All-America 49 times, while 65 have played soccer professionally. Twenty Hoosiers have played for the U.S. National Team.
Sanderson joined the Suffield (Conn.) Academy staff in 1952, where he taught history, mechanical drawing and public speaking in addition to his coaching responsibilities in soccer, basketball and tennis. During his tenure he also served as Suffield's Director of Admissions and Assistant Headmaster and spent four years as the school's Headmaster. As the varsity soccer coach, he fashioned a 156-77-22 career record before leaving Suffield in 1978 to work for the American Secondary Schools for International Students and Teachers (ASSIST).
His efforts to grow the sport branched in several directions. He was founder and president of the Western New England Preparatory School Soccer Association and was president of the NASL's Hartford Bicentennials from 1974-76. He also served as a vice-president of the NSCAA and received two Letters of Commendation from the association, recognizing his coaching success, organizational efforts for prep school soccer and his work to attract independent and high school coaches into the NSCAA. Those efforts laid the foundation for the association's growth into the largest coaches association in the world, with a membership that now exceeds 25,000. Sanderson passed away in 1986.
Yeagley and Sanderson will be inducted into the NSCAA Hall of Fame at the association's annual Awards Banquet, which will be held Friday evening, Jan. 18, 2008, at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, Md.
Based in Kansas City, Kan., the NSCAA is the largest coaches' organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1941, it has grown to include more than 25,000 members who coach both genders at all levels of the sport. In addition to a national rankings program for colleges and high schools, NSCAA offers an extensive recognition program that presents nearly 10,000 individual awards every year. It fulfills its mission of coaching education through a nationwide program of clinics and week-long courses, teaching more than 4,000 soccer coaches each year. For more information, please visit www.NSCAA.com.
