Cy Strickler
Inducted January 2006
During a period of 25 years in his long and fruitful career in Georgia soccer, Cy Strickler has been one of the foremost advocates of, and workers in, girls’ youth soccer. Since 1980, he has achieved outstanding success with those youth soccer players participating in the programs he has served, but, more importantly, the progress, the achievements, and the athletic and character development realized by the many hundreds of girls his leadership has served have resulted in a record matched only by a very few dedicated colleagues in Georgia soccer history.
Cy began coaching his daughter's team (he has five daughters) in 1980, and immediately realized that boys’ youth teams were routinely given more emphasis and resources, better coaches and fields. This led him to become a strong advocate for girls’ youth soccer. In 1982, he founded the Tophat Soccer Club, named after the Tophat Fighter Squadron in which Cy served his country so faithfully. Over the years, that club has developed into an outstanding women's soccer program.
From 1982 to the present, Cy has personally coached three State Championship teams, while 35 teams of the Tophat Soccer Club have won State Championships, five have won Regional Championships, two have been Regional runners-up, and three have placed third in our USYSA Region. In addition, three teams have placed third in the National Championships. Just as importantly, many hundreds of young girls ages 5 through 10 have been introduced to soccer through the Little Hatter programs within the Club system.
Obviously, none of this would have been achieved without the Tophat Soccer Club’s, under Cy's leadership and motivation, having concentrated on player as well as team development, and fostering in each player and team the self-esteem and love of team sport that reflect excellence in achievement. Some 100 Tophat Soccer Club youth players have gone on to play at the college level, and three played at the national level in the Women's United Soccer Association. Presenting the opportunity to so many young girls to form and pursue lifetime goals and strive for and achieve personal excellence is the core of Cy's achievement.
At the state level, Cy served actively on the GYSA Athena Committee from 1986 until 1998, also served as the GYSA Athena Committee Chair from 1988 through 1998, and has served as the GYSA Registrar since 2004. At the USYSA level, Cy served as USYSA Region III Representative from 2001 through 2003.
Cy's determination and dedication to the development and growth of girls’ soccer in Georgia represent the highest standard of excellence for others to follow.