SCSOCCER.COM: SCHSSCA Hall of Fame

The South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association (SCHSSCA) is proud to announce the inaugural SCHSSCA Hall of Fame Class. The initial inductees include William Hosea (J.L. Mann HS), Tom Reilly (Academic Magnet HS), Frank Ridlehoover (Gaffney HS), Phil Savitz (Irmo HS), and Dick Smith (T.L. Hanna HS). These gentlemen will be inducted at the CESA North South Soccer Classic banquet June 15, 2007 at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson, South Carolina. The accumulative record of the five inductees – all cornerstones of South Carolina prep soccer – include more than 2,100 wins and have won 32 State Championships and 18 State Runner-Up awards. The SCHSSCA is an auxiliary member of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA).

William Hosea – Currently the boys head soccer coach at J.L. Mann High School and previously at Riverside High School, Hosea has been a head coach for 32 years and his overall record is 438-111-6. Coach Hosea’s teams have captured nine State Championships and finished twice as State Runners-Up. Hosea has also led his teams to 14 region titles. Coach Hosea has been honored with numerous awards including: Region Coach of the Year 14 times; S.C. High School Sports Report Coach of the Year six times; SCACA Coach of the Year twice; the Lifetime Coaching Award in 1995, and was awarded the SCHSSCA Dick Walsh Award for distinguished service to the game of prep soccer in 2002. Coach Hosea has coached the North South Soccer Classic three times and served as a coach in the McDonald’s All-American Game in 2003.

Tom Reilly – Coach Reilly was the head boys soccer coach at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant for 24 years and is currently serving as the girls coach at Academic Magnet High School in Charleston. Coach Reilly’s teams have compiled an overall record of 424-99-16, which includes four State Championships and three State Runners-Up finishes. Coach Reilly has been named Region Coach of the Year nine times, Lowcountry Coach of the Year four times; the S.C. High School Coach Sports Report Coach of the Year six times; SCACA Coach of the year, and has also been awarded the SCACA Outstanding Service Award. Coach Reilly has also served as the Director of the North-South Soccer Classic for 15 years, and coached in this all-star event on two occasions. Coach Reilly will also coach in the inaugural Clash of the Carolinas for the S.C. girls team July 7th.

Frank Ridlehoover – Coach Ridlehoover is currently the head boys coach at Gaffney High School and has been a head coach for more than 30 years. His career has spanned positions at Eastside HS in Taylors, Dorman HS in Spartanburg, and Polk County HS in North Carolina. Coach Ridlehoover has directed his teams to three State Championships in South Carolina and one in North Carolina as well as six State Runner-Up finishes. His teams have also won 14 region championships. “Uncle Frank” as he is affectionately known by his soccer peers, has an over all record of 389-194-27. Coach Ridlehoover has been honored numerous times including the SCACA State Coach of the Year, 10 region Coach of the Year recognitions, and a SCACA nominee for the NHSACA Soccer coach of the Year. In 2006, Coach Ridlehoover was the recipient of the SCHSSCA Dick Walsh Award. He has coached both the boys and girls teams in the North-South Soccer Classic as well as serving as coach of the McDonald’s All-American Game. Coach Ridlehoover will coach in the inaugural Clash of the Carolinas all-star match this July at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island.

Phil Savitz – Phil Savitz has been the head coach at Irmo High School for 27 years. Coach Savitz is one of the most recognizable figures nationally in prep soccer as he holds the record in the Palmetto State for most wins (502), most State Championships (13), and also has finished as State Finalists six times. Coach Savitz has guided his Yellow Jacket squads to an overall record of 502-65-5. Coach Savitz has coached in the North-South Soccer Classic on two occasions and has received numerous Coach of the Year awards – including 13 region COTY awards; a four-time SCACA Coach of the Year award recipient; a seven-time S.C. High School Sports Report Coach of the Year; and was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) finalist.

Dick Smith – Coach Smith is the current S.C. State Soccer Chairman and has served as the head coach at T.L. Hanna HS in Anderson for the last 29 years. Coach Smith owns a 372-214-11 overall record and has won 10 Region Championships, two State Championships and tallied one State Runner-Up finish. Coach Smith has served as S.C. State Soccer Chairman since 1981 and is a founding member of the SCHSSCA. Coach Smith is the co-founder of both the boys and girls North-South Soccer Classic senior all-star games. Coach Smith has also served as a coach in the North-South Soccer Classic on two occasions; the McDonalds All-American Game, and the inaugural CUFC Clash of the Carolinas North Carolina vs. South Carolina All-Star match. Coach Smith has been named Region Coach of the Year six times, SCACA State Coach of the Year, and twice the South Carolina nominee for NSCAA Coach of the Year.

Tickets to the banquet are $20 and my be purchased by contacting Linda Smith (1109 White Oak Drive, Anderson, South Carolina 29621) or contact Scott Ruggles at [Email]SRuggles@aol.com.[/Email]