Floral Park boys soccer coach Ahkeel Rodney wins national award
Floral Park's Ahkeel Rodney, an Elmont graduate, will receive a coaching honor in Philadelphia on Jan. 15 at the annual United Soccer Coaches Convention. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Floral Park boys soccer coach Ahkeel Rodney isn’t one to talk himself up. He describes himself as “awkward” in that regard, preferring to credit those around him than to accept any of his own.
So, when Rodney received an email learning that he was named as the 2025 High School Coach of the Year by the Black Soccer Coaches Leadership Team, an advocacy group within United Soccer Coaches, he didn’t believe it was real.
“I didn’t know if someone was messing with me,” Rodney said. “But I just think it’s cool what it says about the program and the town.”
The Black Coaches Community was founded in 1996 and highlights coaches of color within soccer communities across the United States. The organization is an advocacy group within United Soccer Coaches, the largest organization of soccer coaches in the country.
The award featured nominees from around the United States. Rodney, an Elmont graduate, will receive the honor in Philadelphia on Jan. 15 at the annual United Soccer Coaches Convention.
“I can take such pride in it because it’s what the boys have accomplished,” Rodney said. “We put this project together about changing the culture and all these things, and ultimately, it’s the boys out there who are the ones performing and getting it done. And me being proud of them leads to such a cool award.”
In his sixth season as head coach with Floral Park, Rodney helped the Knights win their second county title in as many years and finish with a 15-2-3 record. He led Floral Park to the program’s first Long Island and state titles in fall 2024, and he holds a 66-16-11 regular season record with an 11-4 record in the playoffs.
Baldwin graduate Mabricio Wilson, the committee advisor who nominated Rodney, said he looks for “success and passion” as standout traits of a worthy nominee.
“I saw when he took over Floral Park, it was a program that wasn't that successful with soccer,” Wilson said. “And then I saw him put the sweat and tears into the program — many summers training for two months prior to the season, just putting in the work — and I was proud of him and what he delivered.”
Wilson also noted Rodney’s dedication, both to his players and to Floral Park.
“Someone who puts the extra work in is true to the community and is adored by the community, is someone we definitely look at,” Wilson said.
Fittingly, Rodney stressed the need to thank his players and their families, as well as athletic director Lawrence Doreson, AD secretary Maryanne Iaquinta and his assistant coaches Christopher McKie and Kristen Freiermuth.
“I’ll tell you one thing,” Rodney said. “I’m ready to get back to work.”
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
