Eddie Radwanski
Although much of his significant playing and coaching career has taken place in the South, Eddie Radwanski (NC Soccer Hall of Fame 2020) can credit the state of New Jersey for helping first develop his game.
Although much of his significant playing and coaching career has taken place in the South, Eddie Radwanski (NC Soccer Hall of Fame 2020) can credit the state of New Jersey for helping first develop his game. The town of Neptune was his center, and it was there that he spent countless hours honing his skills and playing for the Wall Atoms Youth Club. It would culminate with a state championship for Neptune High School in 1980 and, ultimately, recognition by the Newark Star-Ledger in 1999 as a top ten state player from the 1980’s and a place on the state All-Century team.
But the South soon beckoned, and in 1981 he chose a fledging collegiate program in which to continue. All he did was lead UNC-G to two Division III national championships under Coach Mike Berticelli (NC Soccer HOF 2017) in 1982 and 1983, and he became the Spartans’ first two-time All-American in his junior and senior seasons.
Radwanski was the first overall player chosen in the 1985 MISL draft by the Dallas Sidekicks. There he was part of two league championship teams in 1986 and 1987. From 1990-1992 he played for the Tacoma Stars, where he was team MVP in 1992. In addition, he was also part of the US National Team pool (1985-1992) with five total appearances, four in the first year.
In 1993 he returned to Greensboro, playing for the USISL Dynamo, whose 1993 and 1994 teams are in the 2020 North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame’s National Champions Hall of Honor. Success seemed to follow him, as those two teams won National titles, and he was League MVP and National Finals MVP in 1993. But he also reached another important goal. He had made a commitment to UNC-G athletics that he would complete his undergraduate degree, and he did so in 1997 with a B.A. in business.
Eddie was named head coach of Women’s Soccer at his alma mater in time for the 2001 season, and he would serve in that position for ten years. During that time the Lady Spartans of the Southern Conference won seven regular season and four tournament titles and made five NCAA appearances. His record at UNC-G was 139-65-3. But on December 20, 2010 it was announced that he would be moving on to Clemson and the ACC. His feelings for what the past decade meant to him was summed up this way : “Greensboro has been my home and it means a lot to me. I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to lead the program…. it is a special place.”
At Clemson, Radwanski’s record at the end of 2018 was 70-47-18. His 2016 team was ACC champion and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA’s, while his 2014, 2015 and 2017 teams also competed in that tournament. His squads also consistently rank among the highest academically at the University.
His playing success would lead to previous induction into four sports Hall of Fames (UNC-G, Neptune High School, Carolina Dynamo and Guilford County), while his coaching has been awarded with six COY awards (Southern Conference, ACC, Southeast Region Division 1).
But it should also be noted that, while at UNC-Greensboro, since he didn’t have enough to do, he was also NC ODP state team head coach and Region III ODP head coach for most of the decade. Here is further proof of a real soccer lifer, skills and leadership shaped by total dedication, and a worthy member of the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame, class of 2020.