The Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame is proud to announce its newest 4-person class into the Hall of Fame. The 2020 Class includes Ken Harkenrider, Lori Lindsey, Bill Vieth Jr., and Alexander Wood. The class will be inducted into the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 at the Renaissance Hotel – Carmel.
Harkenrider began his career as a player in 1979 at Luers H.S in Fort Wayne before moving on to the University of Notre Dame. He began his coaching career at St. Benedicts Prep and Kearney Scots Club in New Jersey. From there, he moved back to Fort Wayne and begin his 30 year stint at Canterbury H.S. as both a coach and administrator. He served on the Indiana Soccer Coaching Education staff; the United Soccer Coaches Ad-Hoc Curriculum Committee; and the Indiana Soccer Foundation.
“His ability to command respect from his peers only rivals his ability to influence the game on and off the field”, said legendary IU Coach and Hall of Fame Member Jerry Yeagley. “He is a man of firsts and lasting legacy.”
Lindsey is a graduate of Pike H.S, where she was named NSCAA Parade All-American and earned first team All-State honors four consecutive years. Upon graduating, she was the all-time leading prep scorer in Indiana high school history. Lindsey played at the University of Virginia from 1998–2001 and was the school's first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year winning the award two consecutive years (2000 & 2001) joining Mia Hamm as the only other player to achieve that distinction. She finished sixth all-time scorer in UVA history with 33 goals and 76 points and was named NSCAA Second-Team All-American in 2001 and Third-Team All-American in 2000. She was also a 2001 finalist for the M.A.C. Award. Lindsey was named Female Athlete of the Year at UVA for the 2001–02 academic year.
Her professional playing career spanned 13 years. Her most notable accomplishments include representing the United States Women’s National Team at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany and helping the team earn the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal in London.
“She never doubted herself. She’s worked extremely hard. She’s always looked at her game and said ‘how can I get better, how can I get better’. She made herself a national team player over the course of time after she graduated. I think she deserves a lot of credit for that. I wish more people would take that attitude…Some would tend to make excuses or quit or not persevere like she did,” said Steve Swanson, Lindsey’s college coach at the University of Virginia.
Bill Vieth Jr. was a high scoring attacking midfielder on two Reitz Memorial High School teams that won two State (IHSSA) championships and on Pizza Hut u-19 teams that won a State Cup title. After a successful college career at St Louis University he returned to Evansville and began coaching Reitz Memorial High School boys in 1986. Bill's body of work as a High School coach is amazing and ongoing. He coached teams to ten State Championships including three of the last four and made seven additional final four appearances. Add to that; 28 Sectional champions as well as 24 Regional Titles and you have a true dynasty that Bill nurtured at Evansville Reitz Memorial High School.
“His passion for the game is as intense as ever and he transfers that intensity to the young players on his teams. The work ethic and discipline that it takes to make a champion is what he preaches and teaches every day. As a role model and coach, he is of the highest caliber,” stated former University of Evansville coach and Hall of Fame member Fred Schmalz.
The final inductee to the Class of 2020 is Alexander Wood. Wood was previously inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1986 based on being a member of the first USMNT World Cup team, playing as a left back in the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Born in Scotland in1907, Wood migrated to Gary, IN as a teenager. He played professionally in Chicago, Detroit, Brooklyn and in the United Kingdom. He is distinguished to be the first player associated with Leicester City to have played in the World Cup. He finished his playing career with Nottingham Forest.
He went on to serve as the Technical Director for the Portage Parks Department Soccer League – the 1st city-wide league in Indiana.
The Hall of Fame “belongs” to the Indiana soccer community and not to any one organization or group of individuals. It honors individuals whose outstanding achievements and significant accomplishments have had a long lasting effect upon the sport of soccer in Indiana and merit the highest recognition.