RICHMOND, Va. – (Monday, October 15, 2018) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that Director of Soccer Leigh Cowlishaw has been named a 2018 Richmond Times-Dispatch Person of the Year Honoree.

Having previously joined the Kickers as a player during the club’s inaugural season in 1993, Cowlishaw assumed the role of head coach in 2000. He has amassed an overall record of 276 wins,156 losses,128 draws, leading the Kickers to 13 consecutive playoff berths (2004-2016).  Under his guidance, the Kickers have qualified for postseason play 15 times, reaching the title match in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010, while earning the Regular Season Championship title on four occasions (2001, 2006, 2007 and 2013) and claiming the league crown twice (2006 and 2009). 

Cowlishaw coached his 560th and final match on June 23, 2018 with a 1-1 draw against the Charlotte Independence at City Stadium and reached his 276th win as head coach with a 2-0 victory over long-time rivals Charleston Battery two weeks prior.

As Director of Soccer, Cowlishaw is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the club while managing the technical staff, overseeing branding and marketing initiatives and delegating responsibilities in a continuously evolving sport marketplace.  He continues to provide leadership throughout all levels of the Richmond Kickers 8,000-member youth soccer club, while serving on the Richmond United Executive Committee.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch is proud to honor 25 individuals in the 2018 RTD Person of the Year program, which recognizes servant-leaders and others who strengthen and highlight the Richmond region.

The 2018 honorees will be featured in the December edition of the RTD’s Discover Richmond magazine, which publishes on Tuesday, Dec. 11. The magazine captures not just how the honorees have shaped the region but who they are as individuals behind their titles and accomplishments.

The RTD introduced its Person of the Year program in 2015, which was the 165th anniversary of the RTD and the 40th anniversary of its Discover Richmond publication. The RTD views its work as a service to Richmond, so to celebrate the milestone year, it developed a civic recognition program to honor individuals who also serve or achieve in our region.