John Greaves pictured with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer President Jim Kuntz in 2015 with his 2014 Girls Competitive Coach of the Year Award. Greaves won the honor again this year.

11/30/2016—Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is pleased to announce that John Greaves, Director of Coaching at Yardley Makefield Soccer (YMS) and head coach of the YMS Premier Xplosion, has been named 2016 US Youth Soccer Region I Girls Competitive Coach of the Year. As the Region I winner, Greaves will be honored at the 2017 US Youth Soccer Awards Gala on January 13 in Los Angeles, where he’ll also be in the running for the National Girls Competitive Coach of the Year Award.

Greaves, now a two-time Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Girls Competitive Coach of the Year, enjoyed a landmark 2016 at the helm of the Xplosion. Having finished second in the US Youth Soccer National Championships for three consecutive seasons, his team finally broke through with a 3-2, extra time victory in this year’s U17 Girls finale. The Xplosion rallied from a 2-0 deficit at halftime to lift the elusive trophy.

In addition to the national title, the Xplosion won the US Youth Soccer National League and its fifth Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup in six seasons.

“Coach Greaves has done great things for YMS in his time as Director of Coaching,” said Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer President Jim Kuntz. “To see his team win a national championship after finishing second three years in a row was one of the highlights of 2016. This is a very well deserved honor.”

Greaves becomes just the fourth Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer representative to be named Region I Girls Competitive Coach of the year, joining Nevin Shenck (2002), Terry Underkoffler (1997) and Ron Viehweger (1995).

“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Greaves. “I was shocked when it came through. It’s a really proud moment for me personally and for the club. It’s just fantastic.”