Poughkeepsie’s Jeff Wexler Inducted in to the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame
New York Youth Soccer News: Jeff is the first person to raise his hand to volunteer and the last person to get into an argument
The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that longtime volunteer Jeff Wexler was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame during our Holiday Party on December 17 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.
The Poughkeepsie resident began his career in youth soccer 30 years ago as coach of his then five-year-old daughter Lauren’s intramural team. Quickly progressing to a travel team coach, Jeff subsequently also coached both his sons Michael and Ryan’s travel teams as well, developing them into Premier teams and contributing eight players to the starting roster of Spackenkill High School’s state championship run. Jeff also served for several years as an Academy Coach in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) for Boys-Under-15 and Boys-Under-16. He recently returned to coaching, taking on a Girls-Under-6 intramural team that needed a coach.
Jeff has served on the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club’s Executive Board for over 25 years and counting. He has done virtually every job in the management of the club from running the refreshment stand to managing the fields and participating in the tryouts.
In 1999, then EHYSL President Ken Gulmi asked Jeff to fill a Trustee vacancy on the East Hudson Board of Directors. He accepted and continues on the board to this day, assuming the position of 2nd Vice President and Director of the East Hudson Academy for the past seven years. In this capacity, he hires coaching staff, supervises tryouts, uniform and equipment purchases, arranges indoor winter training and secures outdoor training sites plus oversees the four tournament competitions in which each team participates. He also serves on a variety of league committees including Supervisory, Rules, Risk Management, Recognition, Sponsors, Premier League, etc. Jeff was inducted in to the EHYSL Hall of Fame in 2011.
“Jeff has been a major contributor to youth soccer in East Hudson for several decades. From his beginnings as a youth coach for the Town of Poughkeepsie through his current service as a EHYSL Board member, Jeff has been for many years one person you can count out when a task needs to get done,” commented EHYSL President Jim Purdy. “He has been and continues to be a great asset to East Hudson and the entire local soccer community.”
In addition to his large contributions at the club and league level, Jeff also served four years on the Eastern New York Executive Board as a Trustee. He was a member of the Premier League Committee, Supervisory Committee (on which he still serves) and organized the Division Champions Tournament during its two-year run. The strain of running a company and having a 200-mile commute to board meetings forced Jeff to decide not to seek reelection to a third Eastern New York term.
“His is always the first hand raised whenever a task needs to be done,” ENYYSA Treasurer Jim Eleftherion commented. “He was always a gentleman and the voice of reason and his loss to the Eastern New York Executive Board was unfortunate.”
Congratulations to 2017 Hall of Famer, Jeff Wexler!
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: With over 100,000 youth soccer players–both boys and girls–and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) reaches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees, and administrators.
