The Mike Berticelli Excellence in Coaching Education Award is aptly given in memory of a great coach. We had met him briefly a few years ahead of his passing and did leave impressed. The honoree selected this year by United Soccer Coaches is Neil Hill.
Named to honor the late USC DOC & VP of Education, Mike was also the HC at Notre Dame, lost in Jan. of 2000. This is awarded annually to a member of the USC Academy Staff as an appreciation for their excellence in educating coaches.
No stranger to Long Island, Ian Barker the USC DOC Education stated "Neil has been a great colleague and friend to me. He as there for USC when I was settling in to the position of DOC Education in 2012. He is a great educator and leader and equally he is willing to facilitate and support when called upon. Neil's honor is well deserved."
Neil, a USC Natl/ Academy Staff & National GK Academy Staff coach along with being the St. Dir. in TX, is also a 30 under 30 mentor. Since heading TX, he has educated just shy of 7,000 in his lone star state home and across the USA. The 2010 Assoc. Staff Coach of the Year, 2016 saw him as the Regional Coach of the Year and a 4x State Coach of the Year. A constant presenter at the USC Convention and that of the TX Assoc. of HS Coaches alike.
As Director of Player Development for Players Academy of Soccer Skills (PASS) in San Antonio and professor in Coaching Education in the Dept. of Kinesiology for UT-San Antonio. He has been with the UTSA Women's soccer program as a Performance and Sports Psychology coach for a trio of years now.
He has a number of FA badges to go with his USC Premier, Advanced GK & Natl. Youth Diplomas.