FRISCO, Texas (Sept. 1, 2026) – US Youth Soccer formally recognized its award winners and Hall of Fame inductees during its Recognition Luncheon this past weekend in Dallas.
Among those to receive an accolade were Ian Mulliner, Kathy Robinson, Meg Munson, and Hall of Fame inductees Flo Egan, Steve Hoffman, Ali Krieger, and John Motta. Each of the honorees were gathered alongside friends, family, and longtime peers to celebrate their achievements.
The Dr. Thomas Fleck Award was first given in 2005 with the goal of recognizing an individual who made extensive contributions to the education of youth soccer coaches in America while displaying integrity, honor, humor and humility.
Ian Mulliner, this year’s recipient, has always been known for his innovative approach to coaching development. He created age-specific seasonal training plans and coaching resources that aligned with U.S. Soccer methodology, which went on to become a model for coaching education nationwide and were made freely available to grassroots coaches throughout the world.
Mulliner was also selected by U.S. Soccer to lead the Education Network and Educator Development Program, establishing a clear pathway for identifying, training, assessing, and supporting coach educators at every level of the game.
Throughout a nearly 30-year career, Mulliner’s work transformed the way coaching courses are delivered by ensuring his peers possessed the ability to teach and mentor others.
The Evelyn Gill Leadership Award was created to highlight members of the US Youth Soccer family that have demonstrated strong leadership, community service, and a commitment to development and organization growth of youth soccer throughout the United States. Both of this year’s recipients, Kathy Robinson and Meg Munson, spent more than two decades bettering their State Associations.
Robinson’s longtime efforts with the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association transformed the sport’s landscape in her home state. She saw player participation rise from 18,000 to more than 72,000 and helped launch Dribbling Across North Carolina, a program that provides instruction for children ages three to six.
Robinson was also a founding member of the National Strategic Planning Committee and a multi-year state representative for the US Youth Soccer Regional and National Championships.
Munson regularly provided leadership and stability for the Vermont Soccer Association and its 10,000 players, often developing close relationships with its local clubs. She was a longtime state representative and regional committee member for the Eastern Regional Championships that contributed to the success of its annual events.
Egan, Hoffman, Krieger and Motta became the latest individuals inducted into the US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame, which now stands at more than 50 members since it was started in 2008. Click here to learn more about each of the inductees.
Krieger and Robinson were unable to attend the Luncheon, but photos of all other honorees can be found here.
US Youth Soccer Honors Award Winners at Recognition Luncheon
