Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in intercollegiate soccer, presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) to the top male and female NCAA Division I college soccer players in the United States.[1][2] Established in 1967 and named after Robert R. "Bob" Hermann, a St. Louis-based businessman and soccer pioneer who co-founded the North American Soccer League (NASL) that same year, the trophy honors exceptional on-field performance and leadership.[1][3] Hermann, who owned the St. Louis Stars NASL team from 1968 to 1977 and served as league chairman, was instrumental in growing professional soccer in North America before his death in 2020 at age 97.[4][3] The women's award was inaugurated in 1988.[5] Often likened to the Heisman Trophy in college football for its prestige and visibility, the Hermann Trophy is administered by the United Soccer Coaches and sponsored by Stifel, with winners selected through a rigorous multi-stage process.[1][2] The process begins with approximately 500 Division I head coaches voting to create a watch list of around 40 male and 40 female players, which narrows to 15 semifinalists per gender after the regular season, followed by fan voting to select three finalists each, culminating in the announcement of one male and one female winner at the MAC's annual banquet in St. Louis.[1] Midseason watch lists, such as the 35 players named for the women's award in 2025, highlight emerging standouts and build anticipation. Since its inception, the award has recognized 95 recipients (58 men since 1967 and 37 women since 1988, as of 2024), many of whom have achieved global success, including 52 World Cup appearances by winners since 1990, representation on 26 national teams, and contributions to over 30 years of U.S. women's Olympic soccer.[1] Notably, 26 of the 29 Major League Soccer teams have employed male winners, underscoring the trophy's role as a key pipeline to professional careers.[1] The ceremony, held each January, not only celebrates individual excellence but also highlights the growth of college soccer as a foundational element of the sport in America.[6]History
Founding and Early Years
The Hermann Trophy was established in 1967 by Robert R. Hermann, a prominent St. Louis native and president of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), to annually recognize the nation's top men's collegiate soccer player.[5][2] Hermann, who later served as chairman of the executive committee for the NPSL's successor, the North American Soccer League (NASL), founded the award as part of his broader efforts to promote soccer in the United States during a time when the sport was gaining traction amid growing immigrant communities and the emergence of professional leagues.[3][7] From its inception, the trophy served as a symbol of excellence in NCAA Division I men's soccer, honoring players who exemplified skill, leadership, and impact on the field, much like the Heisman Trophy in American football.[5] Named in recognition of Hermann's pioneering contributions to American soccer—including his role in bringing professional play to the U.S. through the NPSL in 1967—the award quickly became a prestigious benchmark for collegiate achievement.[8][2] The first recipient was Dov Markus of Long Island University in 1967, marking the award's debut during an era when college soccer was expanding nationally but remained centered in hubs like St. Louis, influenced by European immigrant traditions and the NCAA's nascent championship format established in 1959.[9] Early winners through the 1970s reflected this landscape, with St. Louis University dominating both the Hermann Trophy and NCAA titles—claiming the award five times (Al Trost in 1969 and 1970, Mike Seerey in 1971 and 1972, and Dan Counce in 1973) amid their ten national championships from 1959 to 1973.[10] Other notable early honorees included Manuel Hernandez of San Jose State in 1968, Farrukh Quraishi of SUNY Oneonta in 1974, and Jim Stamatis of Penn State in 1979, highlighting the sport's growth from regional strongholds to broader collegiate competition as professional soccer, via the NASL, boosted visibility and participation.[9][11] In 1986, the Missouri Athletic Club established its own Collegiate Soccer Player of the Year award as a rival to the Hermann Trophy. These awards, along with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) player of the year honor, merged in 2002 to create the unified MAC Hermann Trophy.[5] This development solidified its role in celebrating soccer's rising prominence in American higher education.[2]Expansion and Milestones
In 1988, the Missouri Athletic Club inaugurated a parallel women's Hermann Trophy to honor the top female college soccer player, mirroring the men's award established two decades earlier and advancing gender equity in the recognition of collegiate athletic excellence.[5][11] This addition aligned with the growing prominence of women's soccer following Title IX and helped elevate the sport's visibility at the intercollegiate level.[2] Key milestones in the award's development included the creation of a separate women's MAC Award in 1991, serving as a precursor to fuller integration with the Hermann Trophy framework and recognizing standout players like Kristine Lilly in its inaugural year.[12] By the 1990s, the Missouri Athletic Club formalized its annual banquet tradition in St. Louis to present the awards, fostering a celebratory event that brought together players, coaches, and soccer luminaries.[13] In the early 2000s, following a 2002 merger between the original Hermann Trophy, the MAC Award, and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) player of the year honor, the selection format expanded to include the top three men's and women's finalists, who are invited to the banquet along with their coaches and families.[5][11] The award's organizational structure strengthened ties to the United Soccer Coaches—formerly the NSCAA—beginning in the mid-1990s, when the group initiated its own player of the year recognition and began contributing to voting processes through its Division I coaches' membership.[2] This collaboration culminated in the unified administration of the trophy by the United Soccer Coaches, ensuring a robust, coach-driven selection aligned with national standards.[2] As of 2025, the Hermann Trophy incorporates fan voting to help determine the three men's and three women's finalists, a feature integrated in the 2010s to broaden public engagement in the process.[1] The trophy itself is a 10-pound crystal replica soccer ball crafted by Tyrone Crystal in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, symbolizing the award's prestige and presented at the annual banquet.[2] The 2025 selection cycle, ongoing as of November, features midseason watch lists announced in October, with semifinalists to be named in December ahead of the January banquet.[14][15]Selection Process
Nomination and Watch List
The nomination process for the Hermann Trophy begins at the outset of the NCAA Division I soccer season, with the compilation of a preseason watch list identifying promising candidates for both the men's and women's awards. This list is created through a voting process conducted by approximately 500 Division I coaches who are members of the United Soccer Coaches, drawing on evaluations of players' performances from the prior season and their anticipated contributions in the upcoming year.[1] The watch lists typically include around 40 players each for men and women, selected exclusively from NCAA Division I programs to highlight the nation's top collegiate talent.[1] These lists are announced in August, coinciding with the start of the season—for instance, the 2025 men's watch list was released on August 21, and the women's on August 13.[16][17] Additionally, a midseason watch list of approximately 30-35 players per gender is announced in October to recognize standout performances up to that point, further building anticipation for the award.[14][15] Inclusion on the watch list is determined by coaches' evaluations emphasizing outstanding athletic achievement on the field and leadership qualities.[1] Since the 1990s, the United Soccer Coaches have played a pivotal role in facilitating this nomination stage, overseeing the compilation and announcement of the lists as part of their broader administration of the award in partnership with the Missouri Athletic Club.[1] This initial identification narrows over the season to semifinalists, who are chosen based on further performance evaluations.Semifinalists, Finalists, and Voting
The selection of semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy occurs near the end of the NCAA Division I regular season, typically in late November or early December. Fifteen players per gender are announced as semifinalists based on their exceptional on-field performances throughout the season. This group is determined through All-America voting by Division I coaches, as coordinated by the United Soccer Coaches, highlighting the top contributors in college soccer.[2] Once semifinalists are named, the process advances to an online voting phase conducted exclusively by NCAA Division I men's and women's soccer head coaches who hold current membership in the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, or NSCAA). These coaches evaluate the semifinalists' achievements and vote to select the top three performers per gender, narrowing the field to six total finalists. The finalists are announced in early December, generally between December 1 and 10, setting the stage for the final determination of winners at the annual banquet.[18] To increase public involvement, a fan voting component was introduced in the 2010s, allowing supporters to participate in selecting the finalists. Fans vote online for their preferred semifinalists, with these votes contributing alongside coaches' input to identify the three finalists per award, thereby broadening engagement with the Hermann Trophy process.[19]Award Ceremony and Announcement
The Hermann Trophy award ceremony is held annually as a formal banquet at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, typically during the first or second weekend of January to honor the previous year's recipients.[20][6] For instance, the 2024 winners were announced on January 3, 2025, while the 2025 ceremony is scheduled for January 9, 2026.[14] This event serves as the culminating celebration of the selection process, bringing together key figures in college soccer for a dinner and formal program.[6] The top three male and three female finalists, along with their coaches and families, are invited to attend the banquet, with travel arrangements often provided to facilitate participation from across the country.[6][1] The evening features a structured program including speeches, recognition of semifinalists, and tributes to the sport's contributors, fostering a sense of community among attendees.[21] During the ceremony, the male and female winners are announced onstage, marking the official reveal following the voting by United Soccer Coaches members.[2] Each recipient is then presented with the Hermann Trophy, a distinctive 10-pound crystal soccer ball symbolizing excellence in collegiate soccer.[7][22] Following the banquet, the United Soccer Coaches and Missouri Athletic Club issue official press releases detailing the winners and highlights from the event, complemented by social media announcements and video recaps shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to amplify recognition as of 2025.[20][23] This coverage ensures broad visibility for the awardees' achievements within the soccer community.Men's Hermann Trophy
List of Winners
The men's Hermann Trophy was first awarded in 1967 to recognize the nation's outstanding male college soccer player, with Dov Markus of Long Island University as the inaugural recipient.[9] Since then, the award has been presented annually, with the 2024 winner being Michael Adedokun of Ohio State University; the 2025 season's recipient remains pending as of November 2025.[9] The following table lists all winners chronologically, including their names, schools, and years. Co-winners in certain years are listed in separate rows.[9]| Year | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Dov Markus | Long Island |
| 1968 | Manuel Hernandez | San Jose State |
| 1969 | Al Trost | St. Louis |
| 1970 | Al Trost | St. Louis |
| 1971 | Mike Seerey | St. Louis |
| 1972 | Mike Seerey | St. Louis |
| 1973 | Dan Counce | St. Louis |
| 1974 | Farrukh Quraishi | SUNY Oneonta |
| 1975 | Steve Ralbovsky | Brown |
| 1976 | Glenn Myernick | Hartwick |
| 1977 | Billy Gazonas | Hartwick |
| 1978 | Angelo DiBernardo | Indiana |
| 1979 | Jim Stamatis | Penn State |
| 1980 | Joe Morrone | UConn |
| 1981 | Armando Betancourt | Indiana |
| 1982 | Joe Ulrich | Duke |
| 1983 | Mike Jeffries | Duke |
| 1984 | Amr Aly | Columbia |
| 1985 | Tom Kain | Duke |
| 1986 | John Kerr | Duke |
| 1987 | Bruce Murray | Clemson |
| 1987 | John Harkes | Virginia |
| 1988 | Ken Snow | Indiana |
| 1989 | Tony Meola | Virginia |
| 1990 | Ken Snow | Indiana |
| 1991 | Alexi Lalas | Rutgers |
| 1992 | Brad Friedel | UCLA |
| 1992 | Claudio Reyna | Virginia |
| 1993 | Claudio Reyna | Virginia |
| 1994 | Brian Maisonneuve | Indiana |
| 1994 | Todd Yeagley | Indiana |
| 1995 | Mike Fisher | Virginia |
| 1995 | Matt McKeon | St. Louis |
| 1996 | Mike Fisher | Virginia |
| 1997 | Johnny Torres | Creighton |
| 1998 | Wojtek Krakowiak | Clemson |
| 1998 | Jay Heaps | Duke |
| 1999 | Ali Curtis | Duke |
| 1999 | Sasha Victorine | UCLA |
| 2000 | Chris Gbandi | UConn |
| 2000 | Ali Curtis | Duke |
| 2001 | Luchi Gonzalez | SMU |
| 2002 | Alecko Eskandarian | Virginia |
| 2003 | Chris Wingert | St. John’s |
| 2004 | Danny O’Rourke | Indiana |
| 2005 | Jason Garey | Maryland |
| 2006 | Joseph Lapira | Notre Dame |
| 2007 | O’Brian White | UConn |
| 2008 | Marcus Tracy | Wake Forest |
| 2009 | Teal Bunbury | Akron |
| 2010 | Darlington Nagbe | Akron |
| 2011 | Andrew Wenger | Duke |
| 2012 | Patrick Mullins | Maryland |
| 2013 | Patrick Mullins | Maryland |
| 2014 | Leo Stolz | UCLA |
| 2015 | Jordan Morris | Stanford |
| 2016 | Ian Harkes | Wake Forest |
| 2017 | Jon Bakero | Wake Forest |
| 2018 | Andrew Gutman | Indiana |
| 2019 | Robbie Robinson | Clemson |
| 2020 | Gloire Amanda | Oregon State |
| 2021 | Dante Polvara | Georgetown |
| 2022 | Duncan McGuire | Creighton |
| 2023 | Ousmane Sylla | Clemson |
| 2024 | Michael Adedokun | Ohio State |
Notable Recipients and Impact
Among the most prominent recipients of the men's Hermann Trophy is Alexi Lalas, who won the award in 1991 while playing for Rutgers University.[9] Lalas's collegiate success propelled him to become a key defender for the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT), where he was the first Hermann winner to appear in a FIFA World Cup (1994) and earned 96 caps, later serving as a prominent executive in Major League Soccer (MLS).[11] His achievements helped popularize soccer in the U.S. during the sport's early professional growth. Claudio Reyna, a two-time winner in 1992 and 1993 from the University of Virginia, set benchmarks for leadership and skill in American soccer.[9] Reyna captained the USMNT to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, amassed 112 caps, and enjoyed a distinguished club career in Europe with clubs like Manchester City and Rangers, before returning to MLS as a technical director. His career exemplified the pathway from college to international stardom.[11] More recently, Jordan Morris won the 2015 award at Stanford University, leading the Cardinal to the College Cup final with 11 goals.[9] Morris transitioned directly to MLS with the Seattle Sounders, becoming a key forward and USMNT regular, including appearances in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and contributing to multiple MLS Cup victories.[11] The legacy of men's Hermann Trophy winners extends far beyond individual accolades, with recipients demonstrating sustained impact on the international stage. Over the award's 58-year history (as of 2025), winners have represented the USMNT in multiple World Cup cycles, including stars like Lalas, Reyna, and more recent honorees such as Darlington Nagbe (2010) and Christian Pulisic's contemporaries.[1] This participation underscores the award's role in identifying elite athletes who have propelled U.S. men's soccer growth.[11] Transition rates to professional leagues remain exceptionally high, particularly to MLS, where 26 of the 29 teams have employed male winners as of 2024.[1] Standouts include two-time winner Reyna and 2010 recipient Nagbe, who has won MLS Cups with Columbus Crew. As of 2025, approximately 80% of winners since 2000 have pursued professional careers, reflecting the robust pipeline from college to pro soccer.[11] The paths of these winners have profoundly influenced the growth of men's college soccer, with NCAA participation expanding from around 300 teams in the 1970s to over 200 Division I programs by 2025.[11] Hermann recipients, often from powerhouse programs like Indiana and Virginia, symbolize this expansion, driving increased investment in men's athletics and fostering a talent pool that has produced consistent MLS success and USMNT achievements.[1]Women's Hermann Trophy
List of Winners
The women's Hermann Trophy was first awarded in 1988 to recognize the nation's outstanding female college soccer player, with Michelle Akers of the University of Central Florida as the inaugural recipient.[24] Since then, the award has been presented annually, with the 2024 winner being Kate Faasse of the University of North Carolina; the 2025 season's recipient remains pending as of November 2025.[24] The following table lists all winners chronologically, including their names, schools, and years.[24]| Year | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Michelle Akers | Central Florida |
| 1989 | Shannon Higgins | North Carolina |
| 1990 | April Kater | Massachusetts |
| 1991 | Kristine Lilly | North Carolina |
| 1992 | Mia Hamm | North Carolina |
| 1993 | Mia Hamm | North Carolina |
| 1994 | Tisha Venturini | North Carolina |
| 1995 | Shannon MacMillan | Portland |
| 1996 | Cindy Daws | Notre Dame |
| 1997 | Cindy Parlow | North Carolina |
| 1998 | Cindy Parlow | North Carolina |
| 1999 | Mandy Clemens | Santa Clara |
| 2000 | Anne Mäkinen | Notre Dame |
| 2001 | Christie Welsh | Penn State |
| 2002 | Aly Wagner | Santa Clara |
| 2003 | Cat Reddick | North Carolina |
| 2004 | Christine Sinclair | Portland |
| 2005 | Christine Sinclair | Portland |
| 2006 | Kerri Hanks | Notre Dame |
| 2007 | Mami Yamaguchi | Florida State |
| 2008 | Kerri Hanks | Notre Dame |
| 2009 | Kelley O’Hara | Stanford |
| 2010 | Christen Press | Stanford |
| 2011 | Teresa Noyola | Stanford |
| 2012 | Crystal Dunn | North Carolina |
| 2013 | Morgan Brian | Virginia |
| 2014 | Morgan Brian | Virginia |
| 2015 | Raquel Rodriguez | Penn State |
| 2016 | Kadeisha Buchanan | West Virginia |
| 2017 | Andi Sullivan | Stanford |
| 2018 | Catarina Macario | Stanford |
| 2019 | Catarina Macario | Stanford |
| 2020 | Jaelin Howell | Florida State |
| 2021 | Jaelin Howell | Florida State |
| 2022 | Michelle Cooper | Duke |
| 2023 | Onyi Echegini | Florida State |
| 2024 | Kate Faasse | North Carolina |