2015 NYSWYSA Hall of Fame inductee Dan Shoniker has been actively involved in the Rochester soccer community for 35 years. He has contributed both as an administrator and a coach with his primary focus on the latter. As a coach he has served in a multitude of roles all devoted to the development and advancement of youth players. He first became involved in the sport when his son signed up for Chili Soccer. His son’s team needed a coach or his son wouldn’t be able to play. Fortunately for his son’s team and the many teams that followed, Dan stepped up and agreed to coach, which was the start of his long and outstanding coaching career.                   

Once Dan became involved in coaching, he found that he really enjoyed the activity and to better himself in that role, he read books and attended clinics and coaching courses. His desire and willingness to improve his coaching skills obviously paid huge benefits as is evidenced by the successes of the teams that he has coached and the distinguished coaching awards that he has received. Dan continues to be involved with coaching soccer serving as the Aquinas Girls’ Varsity Coach, a NYSWYSA ODP Coach and a Club Coach for Empire United.

Dan also became heavily involved in the administration of soccer serving on the BOD of the Chili Soccer Club in many capacities spanning 15 years. His administrative involvement in soccer also went beyond the club level where he served on the BOD of Rochester District Travel Leagues and elite Travel Clubs.

Dan graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1967 and the Brockport State University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science with double major in Math and Economics. Dan was an IT Manager at Eastman Kodak for 34 years retiring in 2003. He has been married to his high school sweetheart Peg for 44 years and they have resided in the town of Chili for 38 years. They have a son Jim, two daughters Sandy and Lisa, and 5 grandchildren. When asked about his interests and hobbies, not surprisingly, his response was “Nothing else, just soccer”. Sadly, Dan said that “he is getting near the end of his coaching career and it is time to pass it on to the younger people.”

NYSWYSA Rochester District Commissioner Roger Best said this of Dan. “It is has been my honor and pleasure to have known Dan for most of the 35 years that he has distinguished himself on the soccer scene.  He is well known, respected and recognized as one of the consummate coaches in the NYSWYSA. All of the many youth players who played for him were fortunate to have had the opportunity. I hope that the end of his coaching career is in the far distant future”.

NYSWYSA Member Clubs and Years (Dates) of Participation:                                               

• Chili Soccer Association: 1989 – 1995
• Rochester Spirit
• Rochester Junior Rhinos
• Empire United Soccer Academy: 1996 – 2015 (Present)

Accomplishments/Awards:

• 2001 NYSWYSA Coach of the Year
• 2001 US Youth Soccer Region 1 Coach of the Year
• 2001 US Youth Soccer National Coach of the Year
• NYSWYSA ODP Staff Coach 1991 – 2015 (Present)

Licenses/Diplomas:  

• NSCAA National Diploma
• NSCAA Regional Diploma
• USSF “D” License
• USSF “E” License

Coaching Experience:

• Women’s Assistance Coach, Rochester Institute of Technology  1996 - 2003
• Western New York Women’s  Amateur Select Team, Head Coach 2000, Assistant  2001
• Girls U16 State ODP Head Coach 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007
• Girls U19 State ODP Head Coach 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000
• Girls U13/14 State ODP Head Coach  2001, 2002, 2003
• Girls U17 State ODP Head Coach 2004, 2005, 2006
• Girls U17 District ODP Head Coach 1992, 1993
• Girls U16 District ODP Head Coach 1991
• Girls State ODP Assistant Coach 2008 - 2015 (Present)
• Girls Head Coach Rochester Spirit/Rochester Jr. Rhinos/Empire United Soccer Academy - 2015 (Present)
• Girls Coach Chili Attack U13 – U19  1989 - 1995
• Aquinas Institute – Girls Varsity High School Coach 2004 - 2015 (Present)

Team Accomplishment/ Individual Awards:

• 2007 US Club G16 ‘Regional Champions’
• 2007 US Club Soccer G16 Supergroup ‘National Champions’
• Region I ODP Champions 1996 Girls U16
• Region I ODP Runner-ups 1995 Girls U19
• Region I ODP Semi-finalist 1994 and 2005 Girls U19 and U17
• Three members of 1996 State ODP team Selected to the Women’s U.S. National U16 Team
• Seven Members to the Region I Teams
• Thirteen New York State West Championships
• Region I Championships - Two Time Finalist and Two Time Semifinalist
• Snickers Fair Play Award 1999
• 10 Upstate Premier /Thruway League Championships
• 12  Rochester District and 5 Monroe County Championships
• 1994 and 2001 New York State West “Girls Coach of the Year”
• 2001 Region I  “Girls Coach of the Year”
• 2001 United States Youth Soccer  National “Girls Coach of the Year”
• High School:
  • Aquinas Institute Class ‘A’ Sectional  Champions 2004 & 2005
  • Aquinas Institute Class ‘AA’ Sectional Champions 2006, 2007, 2008
  • Aquinas Institute Class ‘B’ Sectional Champions 2014
  • Aquinas Institute Class ‘AA’ State Champions 2006

Administrative Experience:

• Member of the Chili Soccer Association Board of Directors from 1981 - 1995 serving in the capacities of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Commissioner of Fields, Commissioner of  Boy’s House League and Co-Chairman and co-founder of the Chili Hot Dog Recreational Tournament and Chili Travel Tournament. 
• Rochester Representative on the New York West appeals Committee.
• Vice President Rochester Area Youth Soccer League 1989 - 1996
• Vice President Monroe County Girls League 1994 - 1999
• Vice President of the Rochester Spirit / Jr. Rhinos Premier Soccer Club 1995 - 2011
• Commissioner – Upstate Elite Premier Soccer League 2001 – 2009
• Vice President Emeritus –Empire United Soccer Academy 2012 – 2015 (Present)