Ed Watson has been the girls varsity soccer coach for the past 26 years. This year, the executive board members chose him as the 60th inductee for the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) Hall of Fame.

“[I felt] very honored [to be selected],” Watson said. “A piece of it is being able to look back and think about all the players I’ve had the great fortune of working with and to think about some of the signature wins that took place over that time.”

When choosing a member, the IHSSCA executive board considers longevity and commitment to their school’s soccer program.

Junior Caroline Giannone has been a part of Central’s soccer program for three years and has been on the varsity team for two years. She believes Watson is a great coach and appreciates his support during her injury.

“I had an injury last season,” Giannone said. “I didn’t know if I was going to come back to soccer. [Watson] gave me the confidence to continue working hard and he guaranteed that I could still play.”

Watson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on June 7 at the IHSSCA’s girls Spring Honors Banquet.