April Heinrichs Awarded NSCAA Women's Committee Award Of Excellence

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Jan. 5, 2000

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia women’s soccer head coachApril Heinrichs has been named the inaugural recipient of the NationalSoccer Coaches’ Association of America’s Women’s Committee Award ofExcellence. This award, sponsored by the Washington Area Girls SoccerLeague, honors an individual for her outstanding long-term service andcontribution toward improvement and advancement of the women’s game in theUS.

Heinrichs, the head coach at Virginia for the last four seasons,has led the Cavaliers to the NCAA postseason in each of her four seasons.In 1999 the Cavaliers advanced to the third round of the NCAA College Cup.Heinrichs has a collegiate coaching career record of 116-70-18 and a recordof 52-24-10 at Virginia. She is also the head coach of the United StatesUnder-16 National team.

Heinrichs was the first and only woman inducted into the NationalSoccer Hall of Fame (Class of 1998). A driving force behind the developmentof the US National Women’s Teams from 1984-1991, Heinrichs was a member ofthe 1991 US National Team that won the inagural FIFA Women’s World Cup anda member of the coaching staff in 1996 when the USA won the first Olympicgold medal for women’s soccer.

A three-time All-American at North Carolina, Heinrichs guided theTar Heels to three NCAA Championships (1983, 84, 86) and was selected asSoccer America’s Player of the Decade for the 1980’s.