United general manager and VP of soccer operations Dave Kasper has been named a 2017 inductee of both the Virginia-D.C. Soccer Hall of Fame and the Robert “Tick” Cloherty Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony for the VA-D.C. Hall of Fame was held on Feb. 11, while the Western Pennsylvania ceremony will take place in May. During Kasper’s 15-year tenure in Washington, the Pennsylvania native has guided United to nine playoff appearances and five major trophies: the 2004 MLS Cup, two Supporters’ Shields (2006 and 2007) and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups (2008 and 2013). He has managed 16 MLS Best XI selections, including three MLS MVPs: Christian Gomez (2006), Luciano Emilio (2007) and Dwayne De Rosario (2011). He has also had two goalkeepers of the year, Troy Perkins (2006) and Bill Hamid (2014), one defender of the year, Bobby Boswell (2006), and one rookie of the year, Andy Najar (2010). In addition to Najar, four other D.C. United players have also been named as rookie of the year finalists in six seasons: Chris Pontius (2009), Perry Kitchen (2011), Nick DeLeon (2012) and Steven Birnbaum (2014).
After joining the Black-and-Red as technical director in 2002, Kasper was named general manager in 2007. He was an integral force in the biggest single-season turnaround in Major League Soccer history in 2014, when the Black-and-Red finished atop the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2007. Following the 2014 season, Kasper was named vice president of soccer operations in addition to his role as general manager.
Kasper has also overseen the dramatic growth and success of D.C. United’s youth development efforts, including the D.C. United Academy. He has been largely responsible for one of the strongest academy systems in Major League Soccer, including current academy products in the first team: Bill Hamid, Jalen Robinson, US Under-17 captain Chris Durkin and 2016 MAC Hermann award winner Ian Harkes. Andy Najar, who played for Honduras at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, was the first Homegrown player to be named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2010 and the first Homegrown player to permanently move to a European side when he was signed by Belgium’s R.S.C. Anderlecht in January 2013. Hamid was the first Homegrown player to be named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014.
During his playing career, Kasper was a standout forward at the University of Maryland, earning All-ACC honors while also serving as a member of the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team. He played professionally for the Milwaukee Wave (1989-90) and the Pittsburgh Stingers (1990-94) and transitioned into Duquesne University’s first-ever head coach. Kasper was named general manager of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 1998 (USL-1). The following year, Kasper led the organization to the playoffs and to Organization of the Year honors.
Other 2017 VA-D.C. Hall of Fame Inductees
Meritorious Service: Kevin Denson, Ed Foster-Simeon, Margaret (Mike) Gardner, Larry Green
Veterans: Garland Carter
Other 2017 Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Lavar Arrington — Football
Jeff Bergman — Officiating/Football
Bill Cherpak — Coach/Football
Dr. Jamie Wolf Jackel — Swimming/Diving
Ernest Koontz — Coach/Girls Basketball
Rick Krivda — Baseball
Tim Rooney — Football Administration
Molly Larkin Rottmann — Coach/Girls Basketball
Don Schaefer — Football
Jim Tomsula — Coach/Football
About the Virginia-D.C. Soccer Hall of Fame
The Virginia-D.C. Soccer Hall of Fame was started in 2001 with 11 inductees and was established to honor its soccer heroes with ties to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Nominees are accepted in three categories: players, meritorious service and veterans. For more information, visit their website.
About the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
The Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1963 by Joe Zerilla, Tut Melman and Frank Gustine and became immediately affiliated with the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, which was founded one year earlier in 1962. The Western Chapter is a non-profit 501-3C organization run entirely by volunteer board members.
The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame was established to perpetuate the memories of athletes and other sports notables, male and female, who have brought lasting fame and recognition to our state through their athletic achievements. The PA Sports HOF is currently comprised of four geographic regions with twenty nine local chapters divided among them. The first state ceremonial banquet was held in Philadelphia in 1963 and the second in 1964 at the Pittsburgh William Penn Hotel, hosted by the Western Chapter. The first Western Chapter honorees inducted into the PA Sports HOF were Stan Musial, Arnold Palmer and Harold “Pie” Traynor. Visit their website for more information.
