Diego Gutiérrez, a former Major League Soccer All-Star for the Chicago Fire, has been named the recipient of the 2010 Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He was presented the award at the NSCAA’s All-America Luncheon, held Saturday, January 15, at the Hilton Baltimore in conjunction with the annual NSCAA Convention.

The Yeagley Award, named in honor of the legendary men’s soccer coach at Indiana University, recognizes a current or former collegiate soccer player who has achieved extraordinary accomplishments and has demonstrated the qualities of sportsmanship, integrity and strong work ethic.

A native of Bogota, Colombia, who began his collegiate career at the University of Evansville, Gutiérrez was a two-time first-team NSCAA All-America at Rockhurst University. Drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in 1996, he enjoyed a stellar MLS career with the Wizards and Chicago Fire. He was a starter in three MLS Cup finals and scored to help the Fire claim the title in 1998. He was part of four U.S. Open Cup championships and was a member of the U.S. National Team in qualifying for two World Cup finals.

While Gutiérrez’s playing career was remarkable, his humanitarian efforts are exceptional. Since 2007, he has served as the national spokesman for Nothing But Nets, a global grass-roots program designed to save children from malaria. He and his wife, Ginna, have helped raise more than $30 million in donations to the Nothing But Nets campaign. These efforts gained him induction to the World’s Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 2009, joining the fabled Pelé as the only two soccer players to receive the honor.

Gutiérrez currently is the head of scouting and player development for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

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