By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
January 28, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Luis Lewis of Pleasantville has been honored as the Eastern New York Boys Competitive Coach of the Year. Luis was honored along with Beth Tiffany for this award. The ceremony took place during the Eastern New York Hall of Fame Banquet on January 25 at Marina Del Rey in the Bronx.

His friend and team parent Scott Searle wrote: I was amazed at this individual who had an endless enthusiasm for the game. He was constantly organizing round robin tournaments for the Under-12 boys which was above and beyond what anyone else was doing. In fact, no one was even close. As I would later learn, his passion for the game is boundless. A couple of years later, after I became personally frustrated and disillusioned by modern youth soccer with adult interest superseding that of the kids, I started coaching with Coach Lewis. Pure and simple, he gave me back my love of the game. I’ve learned more about soccer working with Coach Lewis over the past eight years than in my prior 45…
More important than the many accomplishments of his teams in the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL) and beyond is the passion for the game that he shares with his players. In my experience, there is no coach more deserving of this award given his competence, passion and impact on these young men. Players regularly come back from college to train with the Gauchos and always say the Gauchos were their favorite soccer experience.
And in a world of pay for play, the Gauchos costs $150 a year. It caters to kids who can’t afford academy programs and/or are not good enough to make academy teams. All the coaches are volunteers and Coach Lewis solicits donations to limit costs. He has regularly turned down paying coaching roles to coach these kids. And he no longer has kids in the program as his last son graduated high school two years ago.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/