Horst Richardson won 567 games as a coach at Colorado College. (Photo courtesy of United Soccer Coaches)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches is proud to announce Horst Richardson as the 2017 Honor Award recipient in recognition of a distinguished career in college athletics, tremendous service to the association and exemplary contributions to the coaching profession.

The 76-year-old Richardson compiled the sixth most wins of any coach in men’s college soccer history with a 567-304-71 record at Colorado College, where he was hired as an assistant coach in 1965 before serving as head coach for nearly 50 years from 1966 until his retirement in 2014. He directed the Tigers to seven Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League titles and 19 appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship while earning United Soccer Coaches Regional Coach of the Year honors on five occasions.

“We are delighted to recognize Horst Richardson for an extraordinary career in coaching and giving back to his profession through service to his institution, college soccer and our association,” United Soccer Coaches president Charlie Slagle said in a statement. “His success on the field is evident but it is has been his extensive and unselfish involvement off the pitch that should be an inspiration for other coaches.”

Richardson was awarded a Letter of Commendation by United Soccer Coaches in 1997 and received the Bill Jeffrey Award in 2000 for long-term service to college soccer and his support of the association. His involvement with the association dates back to 1966 and over the course of his career, he was a member of the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America ratings boards and Soccer Journal editorial board, chaired the International Committee and Bill Jeffrey Award committee, served as a regional representative and hosted United Soccer Coaches courses on campus at Colorado College.

“I am honored and humbled by this recognition,” Richardson said in a press release. “For more than 50 years, I attended the annual banquet at the convention, watching legends walk across the stage to receive the Honor Award and I never imagined I would be in their distinguished midst. I am very, very grateful to receive this award.”

Awarded annually since 1942, the Honor Award is one of United Soccer Coaches’ two most prestigious accolades.

Richardson will become the 78th recipient of the award. He will formally accept the award at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia Jan. 19.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.