Along with winning a National Championship with Tyler Junior College, head men’s soccer coach Steve Clements can now add NJCAA Hall of Fame Inductee to his list of achievements.
Clements has been coaching for 16 years at different schools but has spent the past seven at TJC. Over the years, he has compiled a record of 252-58-11, including the 2009 perfect season and National Championship win with the Apaches.
The induction ceremony took place in New Jersey where the National Tournament was also happening. Players were able to see their coach receive the prestigious award.
“It was good to see Coach get his award,” freshman player Joe Setchell said. “He has been great to all of us since we have been here and I have no doubt he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”
As said by the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association), Clements has been “a significant contributor to the sport, and promoter of junior college soccer, he has been President of the NJCAA Coaches Association since 2003 and has served on the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) All-America committee and NJCAA Rankings Committee for the past 14 years.”
After having such a successful season, Clements will have to be looking for new faces and new people to recruit to join his now National Championship team.
Among his long list of achievements, Clements has: four National Tournament appearances; a National Championship in 2000; National Coach of the Year in 2000; 10 Regional and four District Championships; five-time Region 23 Coach of the Year; four-time District Coach of the Year; has coached 20 All-Americans, 32 All-District players, and 17 players who have gone on to play professional soccer.
