Jay Engeln, a member of the Colorado College men's soccer team from 1970-73 and former director of alumni and parent relations at the school, was inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame Tuesday night.
  
Engeln is recognized as a "pioneer, coach, and educator" who has helped expand soccer opportunities around the state. After serving as team captain for the Tigers as a senior in 1973, he helped launch the Colorado Springs Metro Soccer League soon after his graduation in '74.
 
"I am thrilled for Jay to be inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame," Colorado College head men's soccer coach Scott Palguta said. "His impact in our local community has been immense, especially his contributions to the growth of soccer in the Pikes Peak region. Jay is a proud and incredibly supportive men's soccer alum, and we are so pleased for him to receive this distinguished honor."
 
Engeln went on to help organize a boys' soccer team at Mitchell High School, the first high school boys' soccer team outside the Denver metro area. In 1975, he helped form the first high school girls' soccer team in Colorado at Doherty and played a large role in boys and girls soccer becoming CHSAA sanctioned varsity sports.
 
As head coach at Doherty, he led his teams to multiple league titles, four straight district championships, three Final Four appearances, and two state championships while garnering multiple awards including the United Soccer Coaches Honor Award.
 
Engeln became principal at Palmer High School in the 1990's and once earned national attention by dribbling a soccer ball to the summit of Pikes Peak to raise $30,000 for the high school. He was named the National Secondary School Principal of the Year in 2000.
 
Later, he served as president of United Soccer Coaches in 2000, was a 16-year representative on the United Soccer Coaches Board of Directors and won the William Holleman Award for Meritorious Service by the United Soccer Coaches Foundation in 2022.
 
Engeln was inducted into the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.