Whitfield faculty member and head girls soccer coach Jeff Cacciatore will be inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 17, 2013. Coach Cacciatore, now in his 23rd year at Whitfield, is being acknowledged for his successful playing career and contributions to the St. Louis soccer coaching community.
Cacciatore played collegiate soccer at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he was a member of the Cougar’s 1979 NCAA Division I national championship team. He was inducted into the SIUE Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. After graduating from SIUE, Cacciatore played one season for the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers and reached the North American Soccer League (NASL) championship match in 1980. Cacciatore returned to St. Louis and played the next six seasons with the St. Louis Steamers. During his Steamers’ career, the team advanced twice to the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) championship match and Cacciatore was named team MVP for the 1982-83 season. Cacciatore won the Over-30 National Championship with Soccerhaus in 1993 and again in 1995 with Kutis when he was named MVP of the finals.
Cacciatore has been the head coach of Whitfield’s girls soccer program since its inception in 1997. Under his leadership, the Warriors have won a district championship (2009) and several MWAA division titles.
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“It is an honor to be chosen into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame,” said Cacciatore. “I always approached playing soccer as an opportunity to prove to myself and others that I could compete and excel, but I could not have done so without my teammates and coaches, so I share this award with them. I want to thank the selection committee, as well as Whitfield School, for their recognition and support that they have given to me throughout my teaching and coaching career.”