Two years after Al is named to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has announced he is part of their 2009 Class. Here’s the write up from the HOF website:

A versatile midfielder, Trost was a star at Saint Louis University, one of the most storied soccer programs in the country. He compiled 61 career points (26G, 9A), was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American in 1970 and was a two-time winner of the Hermann Award, emblematic of the nation’s top collegiate player. Trost helped the Billikens claim back-to-back NCAA championship in 1969 and 1970. During those two seasons, the Billikens posted a remarkable 27-0-1 record. During Trost’s playing career at SLU, the Billikens won 37 games, lost one game and suffered only two ties. Trost was also one of the premier American players in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and was the captain of the United States national team in the early 1970s. Trost’s NASL career took him to the St. Louis Stars, then on the California Surf and Seattle Sounders. In his seven years in the league, he scored 38 goals and had 24 assists. Trost played 14 times for the United States in international play and 10 times as an Olympian. Trost, who is the second Billiken enshrined in the National Soccer Hall of Fame (May 2006), is currently the boys’ and girls’ soccer coach at Parkway South High School in St. Louis. He also was the head coach of the St. Louis Steamers professional indoor soccer team. Trost was inducted into the Saint Louis University Billiken Hall of Fame in 1994 and was honored with the SLU Alumni Achievement Award in 1986.

The write up mentions his current gig, which is coaching the Parkway South boys and girls programs. What it leaves out is the State Championship Coach Trost earned in 1974-1975 when his McCluer North Stars were the first Public school to win a soccer championship. Part of my introduction to St Louis soccer, with Mom teaching there and my younger sister Julie attending (and cheerleading). UPDATE – Jim is correct, McCluer was the first public school team to win a state championship in 1971-72, the 4th year a title game was played and the 1st year four teams played (St Mary’s lost 1-0 in the title game, Lindbergh and SLUH lost in the semifinals). Normandy won it two years later during the 1973-1974 season, and McCluer North won as noted in 1974-1975, the last year soccer was a Winter sport. They beat SLUH 1-0 in a game that went to 6 overtime periods!

The St Louis University Soccer program, which will celebrate it’s 50th anniversary in 2009, is also included in the 2009 class. Pretty cool that there will be a pair of Springfield boys joining the program this Fall!