TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League announced today New York Red Bulls II Head Coach John Wolyniec had been voted the 2016 USL Coach of the Year after leading the club to a record-setting regular season that was capped by a victory in the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike.
The 2016 USL Awards were voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market. Voting was conducted following the conclusion of the 2016 USL regular season.
“I feel like I have a nice, even-keel personality that allows me to be both honest with players, but at the same time encouraging of players,” Wolyniec said. “I try and work all that in, and I feel like I tick off a lot of the boxes that you would want in a coach that says, ‘all right, I’m going to take this player from A, to B, to C.’ I enjoy it, and anything you enjoy doing you go at it with passion and hard work, and usually you’re successful.”
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Appointed to lead the Red Bulls II prior to the club’s inaugural season, Wolyniec and his side set numerous milestones on their way to both the USL Regular Season Championship and the 2016 USL Cup. A club legend on the field during his days with NYRB and the N.Y./N.J. MetroStars, Wolyniec helped push forward some of the club’s top young players to standout seasons, including USL 20 Under 20 selections Tyler Adams, Junior Flemmings and Derrick Etienne Jr.
The Red Bulls II set USL regular-season records for total wins with 21 as the side ended the regular season on a 10-game undefeated streak that included nine victories. New York also set regular-season records for goals scored (61), points (69) and road victories (13), while also conceding the fewest goals of any team in the USL.
New York’s season was capped by its first USL Cup, which saw Wolyniec’s side defeat the Swope Park Rangers 5-1 on October 23 at Red Bull Arena in the 2016 USL Cup Final.
2016 USL Awards
Goalkeeper of the Year: Mitch Hildebrandt, FC Cincinnati
Defender of the Year: Aaron Long, New York Red Bulls II
Coach of the Year: John Wolyniec, New York Red Bulls II
Rookie of the Year: Announced November 3
Most Valuable Player: Announced November 4
