Ben Olsen (Player) - Inducted 2015

Ben started and played in every game for three seasons at the University of Virginia. In 1997 he was the Soccer America Player of the Year, finalist for the Hermann Trophy and also an NSCAA All-American first-team member.

After his junior year he signed to D.C. United where he played for 12 seasons and won many trophies, including MLS Rookie of the Year (1998), MLS Cup MVP (1999), and MLS Best XI (2007). Ben was a member of the Men’s National Team from 1998-2006, on the bronze-medal team at the 2000 Olympics, and on the 2006 World Cup team. Ben retired as a player in 2009.

Before the 2010 season, he became D.C. United’s assistant Head Coach. Over the course of the season, he was hired permanently as head-coach. D.C. United finished in first place in the Eastern Conference in 2014, and Ben was named MLS Coach of the Year.