Albie Loeffler Named To Fairfield County Sports Hall Of Fame

Albie Loeffler — founder of the Staples boys soccer program — is the newest member of the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame.

Albie Loeffler

Mr. Loeffler — who died in 2009, 1 day before his 94th birthday — will be inducted at a special dinner on Monday, October 17, at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.  Five other figures, including longtime NBA player John Bagley, NBA official Bennett Salvatore and Harding High School basketball coach Charlie Bentley, will also be honored.  Mr. Loeffler has a hoops connection with them:  In addition to soccer, he coached basketball (and baseball and track) at Staples.

Mr. Loeffler began his physical education teaching career at Staples in 1952 — following 10 years at Ellsworth Memorial High School, where he won state championships in soccer and basketball.

In 1957 — after 5 years at Staples — he heeded the requests of several students who had played soccer in elementary and junior high school to form a high school team.  Mr. Loeffler — who grew up in Bloomfield — had been a goalkeeper at the University of Connecticut in the 1930s.  The club team became a varsity squad the following year.

He retired in 1978 with a then-national record 314 wins.  His teams won 13 FCIAC championships — including 5 in a row — and 7 state titles (including a then-national record 5 in a row).  Over 100 of his players went on to play college soccer; many became captains, and several enjoyed professional careers.

When Mr. Loeffler retired, he was a 2-time National Coach of the Year.  His teams had recorded 25 consecutive shutouts; gone 43 straight games without a loss; lost just 2 home games in the entire stretch between 1965 and 1975 (including post-season play) — and won the division championship every single year.

Albie Loeffler at practice.

Mr. Loeffler is a member of the United States Soccer Hall of Fame as a referee.  One of the premier soccer officials in the nation, he refereed the 1st-ever 2-man system college game, as well as the very 1st NCAA Division I finals, and co-wrote the national soccer officials’ handbook.

In 1998 the Staples soccer field was named Albie Loeffler Field.  The following year he became one of the 13 inaugural members of the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame.

The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame is located at the University of Connecticut-Stamford.  Previous inductees include Kristine Lilly, Calvin Murphy, Steve Young, Bobby Valentine, Mo Vaughn, Dorothy Hamill, Bruce Jenner, Bill Toomey, Joan Joyce and Ralph King.

(Click below for a video of current head coach Dan Woog discussing Mr. Loeffler at the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame press conference.)

Staples Soccer Community Mourns Death Of Albie Loeffler

Albie Loeffler

Albie Loeffler — the founder of the Staples soccer program — died this morning at his home in Oxford, North Carolina.   Active and independent until breaking his hip earlier this summer, he would have been 94 years old tomorrow.

Mr. Loeffler — no player, and few alumni, ever called him “Albie” — retired with a then-national record 314 wins.  His teams won 13 FCIAC championships — including 5 in a row — and 7 state titles (including a then-national record 5 in a row). Over 175 of his players went on to play college soccer; many became captains, and several enjoyed professional careers.

Mr. Loeffler also coached basketball, baseball and track at Staples, and is a member of the United States Soccer Hall of Fame as a referee.  One of the premier soccer officials in the nation, he refereed the 1st-ever 2-man system college game, as well as the very 1st NCAA Division I finals.

When Mr. Loeffler arrived at Staples in 1952 — replacing legendary physical education teacher and coach Roland Wachob, who died at 39 of cancer — he was already a highly regarded coach.  For 10 years he had taught history and coached at Windsor’s Ellsworth Memorial High School, winning 2 state championships in basketball and 1 in soccer. 

Inklings — the Staples newspaper — described Staples’ new coach as “the tall, lean, gentleman in the blue and white Staples warm-up jacket (number 30).  He is seen at almost any hour of the day participating, (for he would much prefer to play than supervise) in a game of touch football with the members of one of his classes.”

In 1957 — after 6 years at Staples — Mr. Loeffler heeded the requests of several students who had played soccer in elementary and junior high school to form a high school team.  Mr. Loeffler — who grew up in Bloomfield — had been a goalkeeper at the University of Connecticut in the 1930s.  The club team became a varsity squad the following year.

Despite his many other accomplishments — including serving as a headmaster at Staples — his 20 years as Staples soccer coach defined him for the rest of his life.  His quiet demeanor — he indicated anger by slowly picking up grass and throwing it into the wind — and dry sense of humor were hallmarks of his soccer coaching career, though his basketball and baseball players remember a more vocal side.

Staples head coach Dan Woog said:  “Having played for Mr. Loeffler, been encouraged by him to become a youth coach, then proudly becoming only the 3rd permanent head soccer coach in Staples’ 51-year history, I will remember another side of him.  We spoke at least once a month since his retirement 31 years ago; I visited him in North Carolina and Vermont.  As incisive as his soccer mind was, our best conversations involved politics, history and life in general.

“The last time we talked — a couple of weeks ago — we discussed President Obama (Mr. Loeffler’s politics were very progressive), the economy, and changes in Westport over the years.  Then he asked about Staples’ upcoming team.  He wanted to know how well they’d do, what obstacles they faced — and he encouraged me to hold them to the highest standards, on and off the field.  He knows we’ve come close to a state championship several times in the past few years, and he was excited that this could be the team to do it.”

When Mr. Loeffler retired in 1978, he was a 2-time National Coach of the Year.  His teams had recorded 25 consecutive shutouts; gone 43 straight games without a loss; lost just 2 home games in the entire stretch between 1965 and 1975 (including post-season play) — and won the division championship every single year.

In 1998 the Staples soccer field was named Albie Loeffler Field.  Mr. Loeffler attended the ceremony, and spoke about the impact soccer and Westport had had on his life.  He did not attend Staples’ 50th celebration last September, but his presence was felt by all.

After retiring from Staples in 1978, Mr. Loeffler spent a year teaching history and coaching at Green’s Farms Academy.  He and his wife Carolyn moved to North Carolina.  She died of lung cancer.  Mr. Loeffler remarried; his wife, Gunhilde, survives him, as does his daughter Leslie, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  His son, Paul, died several years ago.

“The Staples soccer community — all of Staples, in fact — has lost a legend,” Woog said.  “None of us who love Staples soccer would be here today without his quiet leadership and determined vision.  He created something that has positively impacted thousands of lives directly, and tens of thousands more indirectly.  I would not be who I am had I not known Albie Loeffler — and I know countless others say exactly the same thing.”

(For more information on the early days of Staples soccer, go to the home page of http://www.Staplessoccer.com; then click “History” from the tab above.)

Albie Loeffler On The Mend After Breaking Hip

Albie Loeffler

The founder of the Staples soccer program — nationally renowned as both a coach and official — was operated on this morning.  He fell Friday night while watering plants outside his North Carolina home.

Doctors who placed a plate and pin in his hip were impressed with the excellent condition of his bones.  Mr. Loeffler — 93 years old — comes from a long-lived family.  His mother, who had a knee operation in her 90s, lived to 101.

He will spend several days at Granville Medical Center, then begin physical rehabilitation near his home.

Get-well cards can be sent to:  Albert Loeffler, 110 Hunters Rd., Oxford, NC 27565.