Ricky Hill Named 2012 NASL Coach of the Year

Tampa Bay’s Ricky Hill

Tampa Bay Rowdies coach Ricky Hill has been named the 2012 NASL Coach of the Year. The award was voted on by media and soccer writers nationwide.  Head Coach Tim Hankinson of the NASL Regular Season Champion San Antonio Scorpions finished second in the voting.

“It is a great honor to be the first recipient of this award, especially with the number of talented coaches around the league,” said Hill. “I want to thank every person that makes up this organization as they work hard to make this organization successful. Of course, I want to thank the fans for always supporting the team, and most importantly the team itself. They are the ones who take what I show them in practice, and implement it on the field. Without them, I would not have received this award and I thank them for their efforts throughout the season.”

Hill’s Rowdies finished the season in second place only 2 points off regular season champions San Antonio. Tampa Bay ended the season with a 12-7-9 record under Hill’s guidance.

“This is well deserved and I’m glad the voters got it right,” said Rowdies President and General Manager Andrew Nestor. “Ricky is a humble teacher of the game, yet also a strong and steady leader, creating an environment in which our players can thrive. In two seasons with Ricky we have two trips to the playoffs and two Fair Play Awards largely due to Ricky’s leadership and commitment.”