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The
purpose of the Ohio Youth Soccer Association North
Hall of Fame is to recognize people who have given
their time, talent and effort to the youth soccer
players in the Ohio Youth Soccer Association North
(OYSAN) state association. To be selected
a person must have contributed positively to the
growth and/or betterment of youth soccer in OYSAN.  Ohio Youth
Soccer Association - North Announces
2004
Hall of Fame Inductees
The
class of 2004 for the Ohio Youth Soccer Association
Hall of Fame was inducted on March 20, 2004 at
the induction dinner in Independence, Ohio. This
class consists of five people, is the third class
of inductees, and brings the total to 22 members.
Hall of Fame
Biographies, the Ohio Youth Soccer Association North
George
Djisheff
As one
of the first pioneers of organized soccer in
the Youngstown area, George Djisheff started
to assist soccer with his administrative and
organizational skills in the 1970s. First
with the formation of the Austintown Junior
Soccer League and the Austintown Junior Falcon
travel team, to the organization of the Youngstown
Area Youth Soccer League, his work has assisted
thousands of kids play soccer.
In
the early 1980s, he founded the Sons of Italy Soccer
Club, now known as Soccer Ohio, Inc. He was a member
of the Mahoning Valley Referees' Association. Known
as a fine referee and coach, most recently with the
Austintown Fitch and Ursuline Girls High School teams.
A
member of the Ohio Youth Soccer Association North
Board of Directors for nearly 20 years, Djiseff
served as the Chairman of nearly every committee. His
work advanced the cause of youth soccer and he led
in the development of a professional organization.
The soccer
community mourned his death in 2003.
Due to his
long time service to youth soccer, his dedication
of his administrative, referee and coaching skills,
George Djisheff is elected to the OYSAN Hall of Fame.
Robert
Dowdy
Robert
Dowdy became one of the first college coaches during
the 1970s when he was the head coach at the University
of Akron. He was the Region II Boys Regional
Coach for its first six years. He was a state
pioneer in OYSAN Coaching Schools and the Director
of the State Select Program. Many of the current
OYSAN coaches took their first instruction from Robert Dowdy.
After moving
due to job relocation to North Carolina, Dowdy became
the NCYSA Director of Coaching and served on their
board for seven years.
Currently,
he is Senior Vice President for an insurance company,
and is looking forward to coaching soccer for his
grandchildren.
Because of
his early work in establishing coaching education
at the state and regional level, Robert Dowdy is
elected to the OYSAN Hall of Fame
Herb Haller,
Sr.
A native
of Europe, Herb Haller's parent immigrated with 12
year old Herb and his brother to Cleveland. It
did not take long before the SC Donauschwaben discovered
the talented Haller. In 1968, he attended Olympic
and National Team tryouts as the sole OYSAN representative.
In the same
year he started coaching and produced two junior national
team players: Wolfgang Urban and Walter
Scholthauer. In 1973 he began coaching the Cleveland Stars, which became
the Cobras. In 1975, he was the American Soccer League Coach of the Year
in honor of winning the Mid-West Division. He also coaches at Baldwin
Wallace College.
He
was instrumental in introducing premier soccer
to the area, coaching in the highly successful
East-West Soccer Club, one of the country's first
true premier programs including a finalist in the
McGuire Cup in 1985. Over
90% of Haller's players excelled in college, including
Brad Friedel, Brad Cartwright, Andriy Shapowal, Herb
Haller, Jr., and Roger Haller. He was the Regional
Women's Coach in 1983, and was the OYSAN and Region
II Coach of the Year in 1988.
He
holds one of the first National C and National
B licenses, earning them in 1973 and 1974 from
Walt Chysowich and Dettmar Cramer. He served
as a board member of Ohio Youth Soccer Association
North, and as a council member of the USSF Youth
Association.
For his dedication
to playing, coaching and administration, and for
his long time service to youth soccer, Herb Haller,
Sr. is elected to the OYSAN Hall of Fame.
George
Hunter
George
Hunter, along with George Djisheff was instrumental
in the organization of youth soccer in the Youngstown
area. He
was the Men's Head Coach at Youngstown State University
from 1977-1985, and coaches for SOI from 1987-1992
and 1995-2000. He was the ODP State Team U14
coach from 1988-1992.
In 1988,
he began his service to OYSAN as the district commissioner
for District 1. In 1989, he was elected
President of OYSAN and grew the completely volunteer association from 7,600
players in 11 leagues to 25,000 players in 36 leagues in his three-year term. In
addition he created board committees to further girls soccer and recreational
soccer. He served US Youth Soccer on the nominating committee, regional
appeals and the editorial advisory committee for the national publication.
In
1993 and 1994, he served as Indiana's first Executive
Director, starting the first newspaper and adding
8,500 players. Upon
his return to Ohio, Hunder managed the State Cup. In
1996, he began a new role as chairman of the Sportsmanship
Committee, and presented the OYSAN program at the
US Youth Soccer National Workshop. He was elected
to the OYSAN Board of Directors where he served as
District Commissioner and Second Vice President,
and on several committees. He is currently
the Presidnet of the Youngstown District High School
Coaches Association and the Secretary of the Ohio
Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.
For his long
time service to youth soccer as a state president,
executive director, coach and administrator, George
Hunter is elected to the OYSAN Hall of Fame.
Joan Korenko
If there
is a mother of youth soccer in Ohio North, that person
is Joan Korenko. Often the only woman on a board
of directors or at a coaching school, Korenko was a
pioneer in soccer.
She was
the first women's coach of a boy's team when she coached
the Mentor HS JV teams from 1979-1981. In
1972, she was the first woman to attend a USSF National coaching course. She
attended, but was not able to pass the physical test set at men's standards. In
1974, she became the first woman soccer coach in the state, passed her D license
and received the Number 1 State Soccer Coaching License. She has coached
both boys and girls teams for over 35 years.
In
the early 1970s, she helped start the first womens'/girls'
soccer league, the Western Reserve Soccer League,
which became the NOGSL. She was the founding
secretary for the Ohio Amateur Soccer League, OASL,
the first community level travel program in Ohio. She
has remained active and is currently the OASL registrar.
Korenko
not only attended school as a youngster, and coached
in the Mentor School system, she has been a middle
school teacher for 30 years. She is an advisor
to clubs, and helps students in the academic Cardinal
challenge each year.
Due to her
extraordinary contribution to coaching, administration
and dedication to youth soccer, Joan Korenko is elected
to the OYSAN Hall of Fame.
Hall
of Fame members will have their names inscribed
on a plaque in the OYSAN office and will receive
a crystal bowl or vase and a special pin. People
who are deceased will have the award presented
to the appropriate family member.
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