Mark Noonan ’83 Named To Connecticut Soccer Hall Of Fame
Mark Noonan ’83 is the latest Westport soccer figure to earn Connecticut’s highest soccer honor.
Mark Noonan
Noonan — who won 2 state championships at Staples (and captained the 16-0-3 squad in 1982), then went on to help Duke University win its 1st-ever NCAA title in any sport — will be inducted on January 30. The ceremony is set for the Farmington Marriott, at 6:30 p.m.
Before Staples, Noonan was a member of several Westport Soccer Association championship squads — 1 of which reached the US Youth Soccer Region I finals. After Staples, he played on a number of Ye Olde Bridge Grille U-23 state champion sides. In 2003, his Westport FC team won the Connecticut State Soccer Association Over-30 state cup.
Noonan has remained active in Staples soccer. He is a board member of the Top of the Hill Team booster organization, and every August serves as an evaluator during tryouts. He also is a member of the advisory group that meets every year to help set goals and priorities for the entire Staples soccer program.
Professionally, Noonan is a highly regarded sports marketing expert. From 1998 to 2000, he served as chief marketing officer for US Soccer. From 2000 to 2004, he was executive vice president of Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing.
He is founder and president of FocalSport, a Southport-based international sports and entertainment marketing agency. Select clients include Major League Soccer/Soccer United Marketing, the New York Mets, FIBA (world governing body of basketball), Repucom, Real Salt Lake, Molten, and Immersion Media.
With his Hall of Fame selection, Noonan joins others with Westport ties in the Hall. Previous inductees include Staples soccer program founder Albie Loeffler; longtime Westport coach and former college star Jim Kuhlmann; current Staples head coach Dan Woog; professional players Tim Hunter ’71 and Paul Hunter ’73, and Mickey Kydes, coaching director of the Westport Soccer Association.
For ticket information, contact Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame executive director Patricia Hennig: (860) 673-9381; 32 Avonridge, Avon, CT 06001.
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