Richard “Dick” Wagner entered the world of Georgia Soccer in our formative years, becoming a coach with the Decatur-DeKalb Youth Soccer League in 1970 when his children became active in the game at the youth level. In his second season, he gladly coached two youth teams because, as he said, “both teams needed a coach.”

From the first, he had a keen understanding of the right direction for youth soccer development. He was one of an enthusiastic group of six youth coaches whose common vision and efforts were responsible for the creation, development, and implementation of the Classic Division as part of our youth soccer program. (The others were Gene O’Brien-DYSA, Ed Thomas-TYSA, Ed Musgrove-RYSA, Steve Keiss-ASA, and Pierce Richardson-SDY.) Their vision, once implemented, allowed players to develop their skills, experiences, enjoyment, and opportunities through participation at more competitive levels. Over the years, the programs they founded have produced some highly talented players.

Dick Wagner was a key mover in recruiting and encouraging youth coaches to seek certification. Through his own participation as a youth soccer coach, he understood the great importance that every volunteer coach holds in our programs. He worked tirelessly to promote, organize, sponsor, and administer state certification coaching courses. Dick regularly recruited experienced coaching talent from the Georgia adult amateur program, from the various professional soccer teams in Atlanta, and among others who had played and coached abroad before moving to Georgia. His efforts yielded countless certified volunteer youth coaches, among them his wife, Mary, and all three of their children.

After his sons moved on to other teams, Dick delighted his daughter by coaching girls’ teams for many years, starting in 1977. He was singularly honored by having the U-16 Girls State Championship Cup named the Dick Wagner Cup in 1989.

During more than 20 years of service to Georgia Soccer at the league level, Dick served as the coach of many teams, coach certification coordinator, and league committee chair, and as a committee member, league officer, referee, and referee coordinator for both the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA and DeKalb County Parks and Recreation.

At the state level, he was active over the years in the Georgia Association of Soccer Coaches, holding a number of positions, including a stint as its President, and helped to build that organization into an effective contributor to Georgia Soccer. He served on the GYSA Board of Directors, as both the chair and a member of a number of state championship and invitational tournaments for GSSA, GYSA and the GSSD. He was especially instrumental as an administrator when foreign teams visited our state. Never in his colleagues’ memories did Dick ever turn down a request to either chair or participate in a Georgia Soccer special project or activity.

Although his career with Georgia Soccer spanned an all-too-short 20 years, Dick Wagner’s accomplishments and dedication are an example of selfless devotion and commitment. He was an intensely oriented family man and a highly decorated Korean War veteran, who enthusiastically lent his personal and leadership skills, abilities, time, and efforts as an unselfish volunteer in service to the ideals upon which Georgia Soccer is based.