MAC Hermann Trophy: Honoring the Best in College Soccer Since 1967

Every year, the country’s best male and female collegiate soccer players are given the MAC Hermann Trophy, the sport’s most coveted individual prize. It is comparable to the Heisman Trophy in college soccer, and its heritage is based on honoring excellence and motivating upcoming players.

Let’s explore the award’s history, the selection procedure, and previous winners.

Where did it get its name?

The honor bears the name of Robert R. Hermann, a businessman from St. Louis who was a pioneer in American soccer. Hermann created the award in 1967 to honor the best male collegiate player. He was a founding member of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) and later played a significant role in the North American Soccer League (NASL). In 1988, the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) added a women’s award. The current award was created in 2002 when the Missouri Athletic Club’s Player of the Year award and the original Hermann Trophy merged to create a single, definitive honor for the best men’s and women’s athletes.

History of the men’s championship

Selection

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) oversees the selection procedure. 40 men and 40 women make up the initial watch list, which is subsequently reduced to 15 semifinalists each gender. Three finalists are chosen following another round of voting by NSCAA Division I coaches. At a festive banquet in St. Louis, the winners are revealed and given a 10-pound crystal replica of a soccer ball.

For a college athlete, winning the MAC Hermann Trophy is a pivotal moment in their career and frequently acts as a launching pad for success on the professional and global stages. Numerous honorees have gone on to compete in the MLS, NWSL, and internationally, making the list of previous winners resemble a “Who’s Who” in American soccer.

History of the women’s championship

Winners of the MAC Hermann Award

Legendary USWNT player Mia Hamm led lead North Carolina women’s soccer to four national titles and won back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993. Hamm went on to win two gold medals and two World Cups while competing.

While attending the University of Virginia, Tony Meola again took home both awards in 1988 and 1989. Meolo later played goaltender for the United States in three World Cups.

A complete history of the MAC Hermann since 2002 can be seen below:

year	winner	position	class	school
2024	Michael Adedokun	MF	RS-Senior	Ohio State
2023	Ousmane Sylla*	MF	Senior	Clemson
2022	Duncan McGuire	F	Junior	Creighton
2021	Dante Polvara	MF	Junior	Georgetown
2020	Gloire Amanda	F	Junior	Oregon State
2019	Robbie Robinson	F	Junior	Clemson
2018	Andrew Gutman	D	Senior	Indiana
2017	Jon Bakero	MF	Senior	Wake Forest
2016	Ian Harkes	F	Senior	Wake Forest
2015	Jordan Morris*	F	Junior	Stanford
2014	Leo Stolz	MF	Senior	UCLA
2013	Patrick Mullins	F	Senior	Maryland
2012	Patrick Mullins	F	Junior	Maryland
2011	Andrew Wenger	F	Junior	Duke
2010	Darlington Nagbe*	MF	Junior	Akron
2009	Teal Bunbury	F	Sophomore	Akron
2008	Marcus Tracy	F	RS-Junior	Wake Forest
2007	O’Brian White	F	Junior	UConn
2006	Joseph Lapira	F	Junior	Notre Dame
2005	Jason Garey*	F	Senior	Maryland
2004	Danny O’Rourke*	D	Senior	Indiana
2003	Chris Wingert	D	Senior	St. Johns
2002	Alecko Eskandarian	F	Junior	Virginia

*won National Championship that year

Women’s
year	winner	position	class	school
2024	Kate Faasse*	F	Junior	North Carolina
2023	Onyi Echegini*	MF	Senior	Florida State
2022	Michelle Cooper	F	Sophomore	Duke
2021	Jaelin Howell*	MF	Senior	Florida State
2020	Jaelin Howell	MF	Junior	Florida State
2019	Catarina Macario*	MF	Junior	Stanford
2018	Catrina Macario	MF	Sophomore	Stanford
2017	Andi Sullivan*	MF	Senior	Stanford
2016	Kadeisha Buchanan	D	Senior	West Virginia
2015	Raquel Rodriguez*	MF	Senior	Penn State
2014	Morgan Brian	MF	Senior	Virginia
2013	Morgan Brian	MF	Junior	Virginia
2012	Crystal Dunn*	MF	Junior	North Carolina
2011	Teresa Noyola*	MF	Senior	Stanford
2010	Christen Press	F	Senior	Stanford
2009	Kelley O’Hara	F	Senior	Stanford
2008	Kerri Hanks	F	Senior	Notre Dame
2007	Mami Yamaguchi	MF	Junior	Florida State
2006	Kerri Hanks	F	Sophomore	Notre Dame
2005	Christine Sinclair*	F	RS-Senior	Portland
2004	Christine Sinclair	F	RS-Junior	Portland
2003	Cat Reddick*	D	Senior	North Carolina
2002	Aly Wagner	MF	Senior	Santa Clara