Williamsburg, Va. - William and Mary Tribe head women's soccer coach John Daly has been selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as the recipient of its Women's Committee's Award of Excellence on Tuesday. The award, sponsored by Washington Area Girls Soccer (WAGS), was established in 1999 to recognize those who have brought honor and distinction to women's soccer.

"I am honored and humbled to join such exalted company. It was totally unexpected and is greatly appreciated”, coach Daly remarked on earning the honor. “To be mentioned in the same breath as the late, wonderful Charlotte Moran, Louise Waxler, former Tribe assistant coach April Heinrichs and coaching legends such as Anson Dorrance and Tony DiCicco, among others, is a great honor."

Of Daly, William and Mary Athletics Director Terry Driscoll said, “As a teacher, as a coach and as an ambassador for the game of women's soccer, John is an outstanding example of what can be accomplished through dedication, humility and class. We are thrilled that John's peers have recognized him as a most deserving recipient of this prestigious award”.

An institution at the College, Daly has been the head women's soccer coach for 24 seasons, guiding the Tribe to 24-straight winning seasons and to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. Daly has coached the side in 506 matches, amassing a record of 330-137-39 (.691) overall and a mark of 114-28-12 (.779) in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Amongst his peers, Daly by all measures ranks as one of the top 20 coaches in NCAA history. When the College defeated Delaware in double-overtime on Oct. 3, 2008, Daly became just the fourth women's soccer coach in NCAA Division I history to win 300 games all with the same school. All told, Daly is the ninth coach in Division I to accomplish the remarkable feat of 300 victories and the 19th across all divisions in the NCAA.

Long the winningest-coach in school history, Daly surpassed his predecessor, John Charles, in 1992 with a 3-1 decision over New Hampshire to record his 64th victory and has since piled up an additional 229 wins. Daly had another milestone on Sept. 7 last season when he coached his 450th career match against Columbia, becoming only the sixth coach in Division I history to reach the milestone at one school.

The magnitude of Daly's accomplishments, which include capturing nine CAA titles, six Regional Coach of the Year awards, and four CAA Coach of the Year plaques, has not been lost on the greater William and Mary community. In 2004, the College named its new all-grass stadium in joint honor of Daly and former men's coach Al Albert, “the ultimate accolade” in a storied coaching career.

WAGS, who has graciously sponsored the award since its inception, will be donating $5,000 to the non-profit of Coach Daly's choosing that promotes women's/girls' soccer. Coach Daly will receive the award at the NSCAA Women's Soccer Breakfast, to be held at the Hilton Baltimore Saturday morning, January 15, in conjunction with the 2011 NSCAA Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.