USL News Release
Sunday, November 18, 2007
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues officially closed the door on the 2007 season for its senior leagues Sunday night at the USL Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner as they recognized outstanding performances by its member teams and executives for the season along with the 2007 Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The festivities opened with USL Executive Vice President and COO Tim Holt recognizing the Bradenton Academics, Indiana Invaders, Kansas City Brass, Northern Virginia Royals, Vermont Voltage and Western Mass Pioneers as 10+ Club members of the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame ceremony then transitioned into the recognition of the three individual’s selected as Players and Coaches by the previous Hall of Fame inductees and Francisco Marcos, the founder and President of USL. USL Hall of Fame Builder and Charlotte Eagles General Manager inducted coach Mark Steffens of the Charlotte Eagles, USL Hall of Fame Builder Chuck Jacob honored former Long Island Rough Riders player Giovanni Savarese, and Richmond Kickers assistant coach Jesse Myers inducted former Richmond Kicker player and current youth coach Rob Ukrop.
The evening concluded with the annual organizational and executive awards which are presented each year for excellence off the field over the past season in the USL First Division, USL Second Division, Premier Development League and W-League.
USL Organizational & Executive Honors
USL First Division
Regular Season Champions: Seattle Sounders
Fair Play: Vancouver Whitecaps & Puerto Rico Islanders
Marketing: Carolina RailHawks
Communications: Portland Timbers
Key Grip: Brad Nicholson, Portland Timbers
Executive of the Year: Bart Wiley, Seattle Sounders
Rookie Franchise of the Year: Carolina RailHawks
Organization of the Year: Charleston Battery
USL Second Division
Regular Season Champions: Richmond Kickers
Fair Play: Charlotte Eagles
Marketing: Cleveland City Stars
Communications: Charlotte Eagles
Key Grip: Melissa Bryant, Crystal Palace Baltimore
Executive of the Year: Mark Geissbauer, Cleveland City Stars
Rookie Franchise of the Year: Cleveland City Stars
Organization of the Year: Richmond Kickers
Premier Development League
Regular Season Champions: Hampton Roads Piranhas
Fair Play: Cleveland Internationals
Marketing: Bakersfield Brigade
Communications: Ocean City Barons
Key Grip: Mike McAvoy, Central Florida Kraze
Executive of the Year: Neil Holloway, Ocean City Barons
Rookie Franchise of the Year: Mississippi Brilla
Organization of the Year: Fresno Fuego
W-League
Regular Season Champions: Ottawa Fury
Fair Play: West Michigan Firewomen
Marketing: Fort Collins Force
Communications: Richmond Kickers Destiny
Key Grip: Rob Irwin, Toronto Lynx
Executive of the Year: Marcie Laumann, Hampton Roads Piranhas
Rookie Franchise of the Year: Jersey Sky Blue
Organization of the Year: Atlanta Silverbacks
Additional Awards
USL Progress Award: Central Florida Kraze
USL Employee of the Year: Steven Thompson
