Eugene Chyzowych

Eugene Chyzowych known by so many as “Coach C” the engaging, dedicated and inspiring teacher and coach who devoted his life to every player and student he met, died Saturday with his family at his side following a long battle with cancer. Gene Chyzowych was 79.

A resident of West Orange, NJ, Gene was a former professional player, served as head coach of the US men’s National team and Olympic team and was a long-time high school coach with one of the top records in the country.

Gene was born on January 27, 1935 in Ukraine, and fled from war-torn Europe to the United States with his parents and two brothers at the age of 13. A soccer player from the start, Gene became a stand out at Philadelphia’s North Catholic High School and at Temple University where he graduated in 1963. He went on to play professionally in the U.S. and Canada.

He later coached in the American Professional Soccer League and served as U.S. National and Olympic team coach in 1973-74. He also served as President of the American Soccer League.

During those early years of soccer in the United States, Gene along with his late brother Walter Chyzowych helped shape the U.S. soccer program.

Together, Gene and Walt started the All American Soccer Camp & Coaching School, one of the first such sport-specific camps in the U.S. in the early 60s, where his energy, enthusiasm and love of soccer influenced tens of thousands of youngsters and aspiring coaches.

In 1963, Gene became a teacher and head boy’s soccer coach of Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., where he would go on to coach and teach thousands of students over the next 51 years. When Gene retired in 2013, he had amassed a record of 757 victories, which ranks third in the nation all-time high school win list.

He captured four New Jersey state championships, 24 conference titles, 16 state sectional crowns, and produced hundreds of All-Americans, All-State and All-Conference players in high school and college, many of whom have gone on to become college and high school soccer coaches.

Gene also coached the Columbia girls’ volleyball team, compiling a 227-0 career record, a 11 -year winning streak and likewise producing numerous championship and lauded athletes.

Among the countless awards and honors bestowed upon Gene he was most proud of his 2009 induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame and being the 2014 recipient of the Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is survived by the love of his life wife Anna of 50 years, son Eugene Jr., son Michael, daughter in law Nicole, grandchildren Thomas and Julia, and his brother Ihor.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday May 12, at the Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 145 E Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston, N.J, 07039.

The Funeral Service will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday May 13, at Saint John's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 60 North Jefferson Road, Whippany, N.J. 07981.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Barnabas Cancer Center/Oncology Services at Saint Barnabas Medical Center Foundation 95 Old Short Hills Road West Orange, NJ 07052 http://www.saintbarnabasfoundation.org