Crooks Was Inducted into NJYS Hall of Fame in 2018
New Jersey Youth Soccer hosted the 31st Annual NJYS Awards Dinner presented by RWJBarnabas Health on Friday, February 1st, where it honored many players, coaches and members of the soccer community.
On hand to serve as emcee for the event was the 2018 NJYS Hall of Fame inductee Glenn Crooks.
“I was really looking forward to helping NJ Youth Soccer host its Annual Awards Dinner,” said Crooks. “Last year, I was able to enjoy the event as a Hall of Fame inductee, and this year I was excited to be in a position to help honor this year’s list of people who have contributed so much to growing the sport in New Jersey.”
Crooks was chosen for induction into the NJYS Hall of Fame in 2018 due to his outstanding achievements in the coaching community, especially with the NJYS Olympic Development Program (ODP) and at the collegiate level. A longtime New Jersey native, Crooks has generated a prolific influence on the soccer landscape at virtually every stage of the game.
“Glenn was the perfect talent to help lead our celebration,” said Evelyn Gill, NJYS President.
“His experience on-air and as an elite level coach provided a strong and knowledgeable voice to the event,” said Gill.
Crooks began his time with New Jersey ODP in 1989, where he directed six teams to ODP Regional Championships and three teams to ODP National Championships. He is also responsible for the foundation of the collegiate soccer programs at St. Peter’s University and the Long Island University of Brooklyn, as well as the interscholastic soccer program at Ridge High School. For his achievement with the latter, he was inducted into the Ridge High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
While coaching college soccer, Crooks led teams to nine overall NCAA Tournament appearances, including a pair of runs to the Sweet 16. He took over the Rutgers University Women’s Soccer Program in 2000, and he enjoyed a 13-year tenure with the Scarlet Knights. Among the players he coached at Rutgers were FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Carli Lloyd and Canada international Jonelle Filigno, who also participated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Summer Olympics.
Crooks currently serves as the host of The Coaching Academy on SiriusXM FC, as a Color Analyst for the BIG Ten Network and as the play-by-play radio voice for New York City FC of Major League Soccer.
