Dr. Philip Heery of Egg Harbor Township will be inducted into the South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 29 during ceremonies at Shannon’s Country House in Atco.

The former Egg Harbor Township School District superintendent began his soccer affiliation as a scholastic (Middletown High School) and collegiate (Kean University) player.

Following his graduation from Kean, Heery became the head soccer coach at Long Branch High School. During his final season with the program, he led Long Branch to a 16-1-2 record and a 13th ranking in New Jersey. He went on to coach and officiate United States Soccer Federation competition for many years.

In 1985, the Atlantic-Cape-Cumberland Soccer Officials Association was founded. Heery served as its president for 26 years. Over that time he officiated numerous NJSIAA soccer tournaments, postseason sectional meets and eight NJSIAA soccer tournament finals.

In 2002, Heery served as president of the New Jersey Soccer Officials Association and he has been the secretary and treasurer of the NJSOA since 2006, when he was inducted into the New Jersey Soccer Officials Association Hall of Fame.

Heery served on the New Jersey Scholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Executive Committee from 2002 to 2008. During that time, he also served as the chairman of the Leagues and Conferences Committee and was the co-chairman of the Fiscal/Funding Subcommittee of the NJSIAA’s Long Range Planning Committee.

He was the 2000 recipient of the NFHS/NJSIAA’s Boys Soccer Official of the Year award and 2011 Girls Soccer Official of the Year. He was also awarded the 2008-2009 Citation Award for Service to Officiating by the National Federation of State High School Associations, presented during the 2009 NFHS Summer Meeting held in Chicago.

Following a 39-year career in public education, Heery retired as superintendent of the Egg Harbor Township School District. He is currently employed as the district’s energy education specialist.

 

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