ORLANDO – April 16, 2015 – Orlando City Soccer Club announces with deep sadness that long-time coach and former Orlando Lions’ player Fidgi Haig has passed away after suffering a heart-attack last week.
Haig, 47, is survived by his wife Sanna and his three children; Landen, Aiden and Karin.
“We are with heavy hearts today as we’ve lost a true leader for the sport of soccer,” said Orlando City SC Founder and President Phil Rawlins. “Fidgi’s impact on the game is one that goes far beyond wins and losses. His legacy and contribution to the sport will carry on for many years to come. Orlando City SC offers its sincerest condolences to the Haig family during this time.”
“Today is a sad day for the soccer community. We lost a great friend, family man, mentor, and coach, “ said Orlando City Youth Soccer Executive Director Steve Rammel. “Fidgi was successful in soccer and in life. I have never met a person who has said a negative thing about him. In the world of competitive sports...that is amazing. He was amazing.”
A firm believer that, “enjoying the game is a key factor to success,” Haig was a well-revered soccer coach in the State of Florida, impacting thousands of players through high school, club and college soccer.
Haig graduated from Florida Tech in 1992 with a degree in Business Administration. He was a college head coach for 10 years Florida Institute of Technology where he took the Panthers to 5 NCAA tournament appearances advancing to the semi-finals in 2010.
As a high school coach he had a career high-school record of 231-18-8 (a winning percentage of .927). As a youth club coach he was Florida Youth Soccer Association’s (FYSA) Girl’s Coach of the Year. Accumlatively between high school and club soccer, Haig won nine State Championships. Additionally, he was a Region III ODP coach.
During his coaching career, Fidgi worked with some of the premier players in the nation, such as:
Ashlyn Harris – Current 2015 U.S. Women’s National Team Goalkeeper, formerly of University of North Carolina;
Katie Stengel – Current Bayern Munich professional, former Wake Forest University player;
Graham Zusi – 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team World Cup player and current Sporting Kansas City MLS midfielder;
Brooke Bollinger - current U17 Women’s National Team player;
Jackie Stengel – current U20 Women’s National Team and North Carolina State University player;
Toni Presseley – Current Washington Spirit player and former member of the U-23 Women’s National Team;
Ella Stephan – Current Glascow City FC player and former member of the U18 U.S. Women’s National Team and Florida State University;
Annick McBryar – Current Wake Forest University player and former member of the U15 U.S. Women’s National Team;
Andi McBryar – Current U23 National Team and University of Florida player;
Kalli Kahmolz – Former Philadelphia Charge and U21 U.S. Women’s National Team player;
In 2014, Haig continued to expand his legacy throughout the region, joining Orlando City Youth Soccer’s (OCYS) Elite Clubs National League program, providing immense experience to the organization. In his first season as the U16 ECNL coach, his team won the Southeast Conference by not losing a game all season.
As a player at Florida Tech, Haig helped his team win a National Championship in 1988, as well as Sunshine State Conference Championships in 1988, 1989 and 1990.
He currently remains fourth in career goals (43) and fifth in career points (105) in the Panther record book, placing him and his teammates in the Florida Institute of Technology Hall of Fame.
Haig continued his playing career at the professional level, signing with the original Orlando Lions team in the late 1980s, spending three seasons with the Club. He was also a member of the Haitian National Team from 1985-1994.
