Jan. 5, 2000

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The University of Virginia women's soccer head coach April Heinrichs has been named the inaugural recipient of the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America's Women's Committee Award of Excellence. This award, sponsored by the Washington Area Girls Soccer League, honors an individual for her outstanding long-term service and contribution toward improvement and advancement of the women's game in the US.

Heinrichs, the head coach at Virginia for the last four seasons, has led the Cavaliers to the NCAA postseason in each of her four seasons. In 1999 the Cavaliers advanced to the third round of the NCAA College Cup. Heinrichs has a collegiate coaching career record of 116-70-18 and a record of 52-24-10 at Virginia. She is also the head coach of the United States Under-16 National team.

Heinrichs was the first and only woman inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame (Class of 1998). A driving force behind the development of the US National Women's Teams from 1984-1991, Heinrichs was a member of the 1991 US National Team that won the inagural FIFA Women's World Cup and a member of the coaching staff in 1996 when the USA won the first Olympic gold medal for women's soccer.

A three-time All-American at North Carolina, Heinrichs guided the Tar Heels to three NCAA Championships (1983, 84, 86) and was selected as Soccer America's Player of the Decade for the 1980's.