Johnny Montoya of New Mexico honored at Awards Gala
 
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 13, 2017) — Johnny Montoya of Albuquerque, N.M., was honored as the 2016 US Youth Soccer Volunteer of the Year award recipient Friday night at the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala, held in conjunction with the 2017 US Youth Soccer Workshop at the NSCAA Convention in Los Angeles.
 
Hilary Kennedy, host of The US Youth Soccer Show, set the stage for the night as the master of ceremonies for the more than 1,000 in attendance. Boys and Girls Recreation and Competitive Coaches of the Year, Administrator of the Year, Young Referee of the Year, Goal and Save of the Year, TOPSoccer Buddy and Coach of the Year, the Dr. Thomas Fleck Award, and the latest US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame inductee were honored, as well.

Since 2003, Johnny Montoya has been involved with the New Mexico Rush. Montoya gets his players involved in community service to show them how fortunate they are to be able to play soccer. He is known to give generously, without asking for anything in return. Montoya frequently picks up his players from different parts of the city so that they are able to attend each training session. Overall, Montoya is focused on providing an opportunity to players to do what they love. 
 
The recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award is selected by the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala Committee. The Volunteer of the Year award honors those who are excellent role models for their community. Willingness to promote players and soccer, sound moral and ethical character and increasing the opportunities to participate in soccer are all characteristics of nominees for the Volunteer of the Year award.

For bios on each of the regional award winners, click here.
 
For more information about the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala and award winners, go to USYouthSoccer.org/workshop/galaawards.