Longtime Soccer America feature writer and columnist Dan Woog will be inducted into the Class of 2026 LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame on June 25 in New York City.
Woog was one of the nation’s first high school coaches to come out publicly. As an author, Woog’s “Jocks: True Stories of America’s Gay Male Athletes” (1997) was one of the earliest books to document LGBTQ experiences in sports. He published “Jocks 2” in 2002.
Woog has written 18 books, was a Westport News columnist for nearly four decades, and has been producing the Westport “06880” blog since 2009.
Woog led Soccer America Magazine’s youth soccer coverage in the 1990s through 2000s. He currently writes weekly features on a wide range of personalties.
“His articles have celebrated the work and devotion of countless coaches, volunteers and administrators,” says Mike Woitalla, Soccer America’s executive editor. “They’ve addressed the challenges of creating access to play and providing welcoming soccer environments for historically marginalized sectors of our society. Without a doubt, Woog has had a profound impact on making American soccer more inclusive.”
Woog founded and led United Soccer Coaches’ LGBT & Allies advocacy group. As a board of directors member, he oversaw the organization’s coaching communities: women’s, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, LGBTQ, faith-based, disabilities, service members, and high school.
His on-field work included guiding the Staples (Westport, Conn.) High School boys to several league titles and a state championship as head coach 2003-2021 — after serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater since 1983.
Class of 2026 LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame:
• Maybelle Blair, Nikki Hiltz, Bill Kennedy, Phaidra Knight, Anthony Nicodemo, Ryan O’Callaghan, Robin Roberts, Rick Welts, Sue Wicks, Dan Woog.
• Billie Jean King & Jason Collins will receive the Glenn Burke Award.
Presented by the Sports Equality Foundation
🔗 Recent Dan Woog Soccer America features
🔗 Dan’s Youth Soccer Letter SA Archives
🔗 Dan Woog bibliography 🔗 Available on Amazon