2010 Tracy Fifer August 1, 2010
It is safe to say that without Coach Fifer, for whom the Award is named, we probably wouldn’t be here today celebrating the achievements of these fine high school soccer players.
Coach Fifer along with a small, dedicated group of other coaches founded the Colorado High School Soccer Coaches Association under the umbrella of the Colorado High School Activities Association in 1989. Tracy was elected the organization’s 1stpresident by his fellow coaches that same year.
Mr. Fifer coached at Golden High School in 1976 before moving on the Bear Creek High School in 1980 where he coached until retiring from coaching in 1993. He came out of retirement for one year to help with Bear Creek’s girls JV in 1997.
He amassed 159 wins in those 15 seasons taking his teams to the State Tournament 10 times. His State teams made it to the Finals in 1985 and to the Semi-finals 4 other years. His teams won 4 Jeffco Championships.
Tracy was named the Jeffco, National Soccer Coaches Association of America, and National High School Athletic Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year in 1990. He was also named the Colorado High School Coaches Association soccer coach of the Year in 1986.
Coach Fifer coached in All-State games in 1986, 1989, and 1993, and chaired and organized the All-State soccer games in 1990 and 1991.
Thank you for your dedication to and insight for Colorado High School soccer. Recognizing the need for a more formal organization to represent soccer within CHSAA promoting its importance and strength. Today it is a model that other sports strive to copy.
Not only did Coach Garcia describe and demand of his programs that they be a “Class Act”, Vic modeled it on and off the field for over 22 years.
An AP History teacher revered by his students and high school soccer coach at Palmer and Lewis-Palmer High School’s only masks the deep involvement and incredible contribution to Colorado High School Soccer. He relentlessly committed to promoting youth and high school soccer as an extension of the classroom to his students and fellow coaches around Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region.
Coach Garcia’s involvement through all levels of soccer as a Player, Coach, Mentor and Advocate is still influential today.
His Playing career began in Brazil and continued through all levels of the game, Sand lot, Club, High School, College, Regional teams and professionally for the Denver Dynamo’s.
As a Coach…
His boys and girls teams won nearly 250 games. Vic started the Lewis-Palmer Boys and Girls Programs. Qualified 12 times for the state tournament winning 8 league championships, made 3 Quarter final appearances and 4 State finalist appearances with one State Championship in 1994.
As an Advocate…
Vic served at the State, Regional and National levels between 1985 and 2002 on the following committees often as chairman:
CHSAA Soccer Committee, NSCAA Boys and Girls Regional All-American Selection, Gatorade Boys top 50 Players, Gatorade-“USA Today” High School Top 20 Teams, National High School Athletic Coaches Association Convention Co-Chair, CHSCA-CHSSCA Convention Presenter and Rules Interpreter, CHSSCA Executive Soccer Committee and was part of the organizing committee in 1989 and developed it’s logo.National Federation of State High School Associations Soccer Rules Committee, NSCAA Ethics Committee, CHSSCA All-State Games Director, and Palmer Divide Soccer Club organization committee and Board member
23 League, State, Regional Coach of the Year recognitions. Culminating in the National HS Athletic Coaches Association Soccer COY in 2001. Vic is the only Colorado High School soccer coach to receive the NSCAA Robinson Award for Lifetime Achievement in high school soccer in 2003 and the first soccer coach to be inducted into the CHSCA Colorado High School Hall of Fame in 2004.