Coach of the Year winners announced for ECNL Boys, ECNL Girls and ECNL Regional Leagues

RICHMOND, VA – The ECNL announced the 2025-26 Kwik Goal Coaches of the Year for ECNL Boys, ECNL Girls, ECNL Regional League Boys and ECNL Regional League Girls.

2025-26 Kwik Goal Coaches of the Year

• ECNL Boys: Nate Murphy (Utah Avalanche)
• ECNL Girls: Michele Krzisnik (Michigan Hawks) and Jasmine White (Real Colorado National)
• ECNL Regional League Boys: Oscar “Flaco” Cruz (Houstonians FC)
• ECNL Regional League Girls: Jimmy Barrionuevo (South Florida Football Academy)

These awards celebrate the successes of these coaches, clubs and players throughout the season and postseason. They represent clubs in all regions of the country, and reflect the strength and quality of the ECNL and ECNL Regional League across America.

Nate Murphy – Utah Avalanche

Murphy has coached at Utah Avalanche since 2014 when the club launched its boys program, and this year, he led the Utah Avalanche U17 team to the club’s second ECNL Boys National Championship. The championship comes five years after the club claimed the first ever ECNL Boys U13 National Championship in 2021, which also was led by Murphy as head coach. This year, Murphy’s team placed first in the Mountain Conference – North Division with a 11-0-3 record, and his U18/19 squad fell just shy of making the ECNL Boys National Playoffs in the age group. Both teams were built with a large number of players who have been with the club since the U13 age group, a credit to Murphy’s ability to not only get the most out of his players, but create a culture where players build together and stay together. Murphy was honored with this award for his dedication to his club and to the league, culminating with a national title.

“This was an amazing season and I am very proud of my team for all we accomplished this year,” Murphy said. “Winning the ECNL Boys Coach of the year award is an unexpected cherry on top of an unbelievable year full of hard work, discipline, sacrifice and success. This award is a huge honor to me and our club, considering how many great coaches there are in the ECNL and our club’s commitment to developing elite players and young men of character. I would not have won this award without the amazing people around me who have taught and influenced me. I want to thank my co-coach Jared Henderson who works tirelessly by my side, the players whom I deeply respect and am grateful to be a part of their soccer/life journey, the support and sacrifice of the parents, my team manager Stephanie Ashby, my wife and three boys for letting me go when and where I needed to, Jimmie Powell, Dave Newman, and Stephen Hofer for their important contributions as directors and Jake Packard for all he contributed to this journey and for making us look so good while doing it.”

Michele Krzisnik – Michigan Hawks

Krzisnik coached Michigan Hawks at the U18/19 and U16 levels, and both of her teams made deep runs at the ECNL Girls National Playoffs and Finals. Her U18/19 team claimed Hawks’ ninth overall ECNL Girls National Championship, the second most in league history, with a dominating 5-0 victory. Michigan Hawks’ U16 team finished first in the Midwest Conference and advanced all the way to the U16 National Championship match before ultimately falling to her fellow Coach of the Year. Krzisnik is Michigan Hawks’ Director of Coaching and has been with the club for more than 28 years, serving as a vital member of their second place finish in the overall club rankings in ECNL Girls this season.

“Thank you to the ECNL for this incredible honor,” Krzisnik said. “I want to extend my deepest thanks to my 2026 National Champion 2008 Michigan Hawks players and families. I appreciate your many years of dedication to me, one another, and the club. We were privileged to share the field with some of the best U18 teams in the country during those final four games, and the respect I have for those coaches, players, and clubs is immeasurable. In addition, the 2026 National Finalist 2010 Hawks have been a truly special group this year, and they inspire me every day to keep working hard. I am fortunate to be surrounded by a fantastic team of coaches, support staff, players, and families, and I am forever grateful for their support. Doug Landefeld and Sammy Boateng deserve their own honor for working alongside me four days a week and most weekends; this award belongs to them as well. Thank you again to everyone who made this possible. I am truly blessed to do what I love every single day.”

Jasmine White – Real Colorado National

White served as the head coach for the U16 and U15 Real Colorado National ECNL Girls teams, both of which qualified for the ECNL Girls National Playoffs and Finals in the ultra-competitive Texas Conference. At Playoffs, the U15 team advanced to the Round of 16, while the U16 team won the ECNL Girls National Championship, Real Colorado’s third national title. Real Colorado National finished fourth in the ECNL Girls overall club rankings, in large part to White’s work behind the bench.

“Receiving this award is incredibly humbling,” White said. “I’ve been fortunate to have coaches and mentors throughout my career who believed in me, challenged me, and helped shape the coach I strive to be today. This recognition is really a reflection of the incredible people I get to work with every day, including our players, our staff, and everyone at Real Colorado. The club’s commitment to excellence and development has created an environment where both players and coaches are encouraged to grow. I’m grateful to coach in the ECNL because it challenges us to compete at the highest level while never losing sight of developing people first. As our game continues to grow, I hope more young women and more people from all backgrounds see coaching as a place where they belong, where they can lead, and where they can make a lasting impact. If this recognition encourages even one future coach to step confidently into that role, it means even more to me. I’m incredibly honored to be recognized alongside so many outstanding coaches.”

Flaco Cruz – Houstonians FC

Cruz led the charge for Houstonians FC this season, as the club sent four teams to the ECNL Regional League Boys National Finals, the most of any club this season in the ECNL RL Boys. Houstonians advanced three of those teams to national championship games (the most of any club) and won two of them, becoming the only club at the ECNL RL Boys level to win multiple national championships.

“I’m truly honored and humbled to receive this award, but I cannot accept it as an individual achievement; this belongs to all of us at Houstonians FC,” Cruz said. “It belongs to every player who gave everything when nobody was watching. Every parent who made the long drives, sacrificed weekends, rearranged their lives, and continued believing. Every coach who invested their time, knowledge, and heart into our players. I may be the one receiving this award, but I’m simply a reflection of the incredible players, families, coaches, and people who stand beside me. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for believing in our vision. And most importantly, thank you for allowing me to be part of your children’s journey. This award has one name on it, but it belongs to an entire family.”

Jimmy Barrionuevo – South Florida Football Academy

Barrionuevo led the South Florida Football Academy U15 ECNL RL Girls team to a 15-0-1 record in the South Division of the Regional League – Florida, and the club advanced out of the ECNL Regional League Girls Playoffs – Southeast event to qualify for the ECNL RL Girls National Finals. At Finals, the club earned two more wins, capturing the club’s first-ever ECNL RL Girls National Championship.

“I am thrilled to receive this recognition; it is a tremendous honor not only for me, but also for my family and the club,” Barrionuevo said. “It represents years of hard work and dedication at a South Florida Football Academy that truly values and nurtures the talent of every girl with a dream to fulfill. I want to thank everyone in our club: directors, coaches, and families, and, above all, the players who make this recognition possible through their daily commitment and sense of responsibility. It is a great pleasure to be part of this team, the level of dedication shown by both the families and the players is truly exceptional.”