Maryland soccer coach Mohamed Ouchikh has been named the 2018 US Youth Soccer Boys Recreation Coach of the Year.
The Laurel native is a head coach for recreational and recreational-select teams with the Soccer Association of Columbia (SAC). He has his US Soccer “C” license, has a goalkeeping level-1 diploma, and is a member of the United Soccer Coaches. He is also the soccer commissioner for the Laurel Boys and Girls Club and a USSF-licensed soccer referee, and he has been a member of the Capital Area Soccer Referees Association (CASRA) since 2015.
“The Soccer Association of Columbia is very proud of Mo’s achievements in our recreation program,” SAC Executive Director Craig Blackburn said. “Mo is a coach that truly cares about the development of the recreational player.”
Ouchikh is praised for his avid promotion of sportsmanship, teamwork, and positive parent involvement. He embraces and promotes diversity on and off the field. His coaching philosophy is “to develop young players to become athletes and, most importantly, good people.”
He also won the 2018 East Region Boys Recreation Coach of the Year and 2018 MSYSA Male Recreation Coach of the Year awards.
“We are so proud of Mohamed for his work with the recreation program at the Soccer Association of Columbia,” MSYSA Director of Operations Nathean Meadows said. “Many of us refer to soccer as ‘the beautiful game’ and not just because of what happens out on the pitch but equally because of coaches like Mohamed who dedicate countless hours to training and mentoring youth. They do it for the love of the game and for the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of young people. Mohamed is a shining example of a grassroots coach!”
He will be recognized at the 2019 US Youth Soccer Awards Gala on January 12, 2019, in Chicago, IL.
“I feel honored to win this award,” Ouchikh said. “Winning this award means a lot to me, and it puts pressure on me to keep improving to be a better coach.”