OFFICIAL SITE OF THE
NATIONAL INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUE
National Indoor Soccer League
Tom Traxler Named NISL Coach of the Year for 2023
Tampa, FL – Central Florida Crusaders Head Coach Tom Traxler has been named the National Indoor Soccer League’s Coach of the Year in his inaugural season. Traxler led teams in both the Men’s and Women’s Divisions and earns the honor for his efforts in both, the NISL announced today.
Traxler led the Crusaders men’s squad to a 13-2 record on their way to winning the 2023 Men’s Division Championship. That record is good for the best win percentage in league history in either division at an impressive .866. On the women’s side, Central Florida finished in the runner-up position, posting an 8-7 record in their first season.
Like 2021-2022 Coach of the Year, Memphis Americans’ Corey Adamson, Traxler was no stranger to the indoor soccer game. His experience and familiarity with the rules and style of play also helped him garner the league’s top coaching award in his first season.
Traxler, a former member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies organization from 1989-1993 and local outdoor coach for the past 28 years, is a recognizable face in the Central Florida Soccer community. He has spent the last 17 seasons as the boys coach of Winter Park High School, where he has won multiple titles and is the winningest head coach in program history. Traxler has also coached Orlando’s previous indoor soccer team in 2018-19 and 2020, gaining valuable experience. For the last two seasons, he has coached the NPSL’s Central Florida Panthers, being named the Sunshine Conference’s Coach of the Year.
The full release of league awards will continue over the next few days, as the NISL recognizes top players, coaches and teams for the 2023 season.
ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA CRUSADERS: The Central Florida Crusades were formally announced in the summer of 2022 as one of two National Indoor Soccer League (NISL) expansion teams. The Crusaders operate both a women's and men’s professional indoor soccer teams. In their inaugural 2023 season, the men finished as NISL Champions and posted the highest win percentage in league history (13-2 record). The women’s team was the division’s runner-up. Their home turf is in Additional Financial Arena, on the campus of UCF. For more information visit www.cflcrusaders.com.
ABOUT NATIONAL INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUE (NISL): The National Indoor Soccer League was founded in January 2021 by a group of seasoned sports team/league owners with over 50 years of ownership experience. The league features both a Men's & Women's Division, competing in double header game days over a 20-game regular season that takes place between the months of January and April. Current teams include Central FL Crusaders (Orlando), Columbus Rapids (Georgia), Fayetteville Fury, Memphis Americans, Rome Gladiators (Georgia), and Tampa Bay Strikers. The NISL is committed to promoting and supporting our member teams, and to providing an avenue for players, coaches, and front office staff to develop their skills and gain exposure for opportunities at higher levels, all while delivering high-quality, affordable entertainment in the communities we serve. For more information, go to nislpro.com.