2010 NJCAA Men's Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Three long-time Illinois coaches in the sport of soccer are joined by six players who impacted JUCO soccer in the ‘90s and early ‘00s are the 2010 inductees to the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame. During the month of November, the nine inductees will be officially honored at the NJCAA Division One Soccer Banquet in Tyler, Texas and the NJCAA Division Three Soccer Banquet at Herkimer, New York. They join 59 other coaches, contributors and players already named to the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame. The 2010 Hall of Fame class includes:

James Kelly is second among active coaches with 384 wins entering the 2010 season. His 1993 College of DuPage squad won the NJCAA National Championship. Since 1987, when he took over the head coach position for the Glen Ellyn, Illinois school, his teams have made 14 National Tournament appearances, third most successful division one program. Additionally, honors include two NSCAA, one NJCAA National Coach of the Year Awards along with being named Region IV Coach of the Year 14 times. He came to the United States in 1976 when Manchester United sold his rights to the Chicago Sting of the old North American Soccer League.

Tim Rooney has established a career total of 598 victories with his men's (309 wins) and women's (289 wins) soccer teams at Lewis and Clark Community College since his arrival in 1986. He was named region coach of the year 13 times and has eight national tournament appearances between the two programs. His 1999 and 2008 women's teams won national championship titles for the Illinois school. He played on the 1970 and 1971 National Championship team at St. Louis Flo Valley. Career coaching stops included St. Louis-Flo Valley, University of Missouri-St. Louis and professionally, with the St. Louis Steamers.

Larry Petri has been coaching at Belleville Area College/Southwestern Illinois College for 30 years, 28 as their head coach. He has served on various committees, contributing to JUCO soccer, for over twenty years. A veteran of 559 junior college matches, he has coached numerous All-Region and All-America players.

Andrew McLeod was a member of the 1999 and 2000 Meridian Community College teams, scoring 42 goals from the midfield position. He led the Mississippi school to two national tournament appearances, finishing third in the country as a freshman and capping off his sophomore year with a National Championship. He was named to the NJCAA and NSCAA All-America First Team and was the National Player of the Year in 2000. After his JUCO days, he was a two-year starter at the University of Connecticut, leading the Huskies to two national tournament appearances.

Michael Randolph played at Yavapai College during the 2004 and 2005 season where he scored 22 goals from the left back position. He was named to the NSCAA and NJCAA All-America teams in addition to being selected to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team in 2005, leading Yavapai to the National Championship game. His professional career includes stops with Portland and Miami of the United Soccer League Division One in addition to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

Maurice Hughes was the Most Valuable Player of the 2003 NJCAA National Tournament, leading Yavapai College to back to back National Championships. One of the all-time leading scorers for the Arizona school, including nine post-season goals, he scored in both the 2002 and 2003 national championship matches. He was a NSCAA All-America before moving on the University of Alabama-Birmingham where he finished his collegiate career for the Conference USA NCAA Division One School. He also played professionally for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the United Soccer League.

Danny Perez was the first All American soccer player representing Meridian Community College where he laid the foundation for the Mississippi school national tournament runs, beginning in 1994. He continued his playing career at IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne). His contributions to JUCO soccer continued as assistant coach for Meridian Community College, including three national tournament appearances from 1999 to 2001, including winning the national championship in 2000. He was also an assistant coach at Tyler Junior College, gaining their first national number one ranking in school history during the 2002 season.

Alex Opoku was a major contributor is helping established Richland College into a JUCO Men's Division III soccer power. He scored over 30 goals for the Texas school during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. He played at Midwestern State University, where he scored 27 goals and was an NSCAA All-American.

Ryan Pierce guided Herkimer County Community College to back to back Region III titles and NJCAA Division 3 Final Four Finishes in 2002 and 2003. A defender for the New York school, he was named to the NJCAA and NSCAA All-America Teams in his sophomore year. After his JUCO days, he played at Binghamton University leading the NCAA Division One program to two America East Conference finals. Professionally, he played on three championship teams-Harrisburg City (USL2) in 2007 and the Baltimore Blast (MISL) in 2008 and 2009. Currently, he defends for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL2.