We honor U. S. coaching legend Tony DiCicco, who died June 19, 2017.
DiCicco was best known as the U. S. Women’s National Team team coach in the 1990s. He coached the team to Olympic Gold in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and to the World Cup title in 1999. He also wrote a wonderful guide to coaching (or any group leadership position) titled Catch Them Being Good.
We were lucky enough to have him come to town to run a session for our United Quest Athena Academy Girls back in 2002. This was before United Quest became NASA, and before NASA became NASA Tophat. Link: grainy photos from the indoor session (back when 1 megapixel was considered good quality)
DiCicco is much loved by his former players and the coaching community for his qualities as both an educator and a human being. Link: 1999 World Cup winning players reflect on coach DiCicco. This writer met him twice (once at the indoor session, once shortly before a pro game he was coaching), and both times he was personable, gracious and giving of his time. Soccer will miss him, but soccer is grateful for all coach DiCicco did for the soccer community (players, coaches and fans) and the game.