Kansas City, Mo. — Maryland men's soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski will receive the United Soccer Coaches Bill Jeffrey Long-Term Service Award, the organization announced Thursday.
The Bill Jeffrey Award, recognizing long-term service to United Soccer Coaches and intercollegiate soccer, is named for the former Penn State coach who played a major role in shaping soccer and the association. Each year, United Soccer Coaches presents the award to a person who has raised intercollegiate soccer to new heights through his or her long-term dedication to the game.
The winningest coach in Maryland soccer history, Cirovski has transformed Maryland into a national power since his first season in 1993. The Terrapins have won three national champions (2005, 2008, 2018), advanced to nine College Cup and 25 NCAA Tournaments during his 27 seasons at the helm. Maryland has also dominated in two conferences, the ACC and Big Ten, capturing a total of 15 conference titles. Cirovski has developed two MAC Hermann Trophy winners (Jason Garey, Patrick Mullins) along with 34 All-Americans and 41 MLS SuperDraft selections and seven MLS homegrown signees.
Cirovski has made Maryland the preeminent producer of professional soccer talent among college programs in the United States since his arrival at Maryland. Some of the most prominent players in the last 20 years of American soccer, including Taylor Twellman, Maurice Edu, Robbie Rogers, Clarence Goodson, Omar Gonzalez and Graham Zusi have gone from Ludwig Field to professional stardom. Maryland is the only program in the nation that had representation in the last three FIFA World Cups after Rodney Wallace appeared for Costa Rica in 2018. With established pro stalwarts like Gonzalez, Zusi and AJ DeLaGarza, along with up-and-coming talents including Eryk Williamson, Donovan Pines, Chase Gasper and Dayne St. Clair, Cirovski's players will continue to play a major part in the future of North American soccer.
On the verge of his 400th win at Maryland, Cirovski boasts a 398-151-55 mark at the school and has used that success to elevate the sport of college soccer as a whole. He served as the chair of the Division I Coaches Committee. As chairman, Cirovski was the architect in creating the position of USC Program Director, a major triumph for the sport. This position represented the singular voice of college soccer in dealing with NCAA legislative issues, overseeing College Cups and elevating the significance and status of the sport. It has helped transform the sport's television presence and overall marketability. Cirovski has shown the fruits of that labor at Maryland, where crowds at Ludwig Field consistently rank first in the country.
Cirovski continues to try and push the sport forward with innovative new ideas, including the "21st Century Model" for college soccer. The proposal would move college soccer to a two semester season, which would greatly benefit the athletic development, academic performance and overall health and welfare for the student athlete. The proposal has support from over 90% of men's coaches and over 80% of student-athletes.
The honorees will be presented their awards at the association's annual Awards Ceremony taking place Jan. 13, 2021 as part of the United Soccer Digital Coaches Convention.
