Charles R. Scott, Penn soccer coach

When former coach and sports director Charles R. Scott received the Alumni Award of Merit from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981, the message on the plaque was telling.

"Behind your uncommon record stands an uncommon man," it read in part. "Anyone who has ever played for you, has not forgotten your efficiency and industry, your friendliness and sportsmanship, and your gentlemanly manner."

Mr. Scott, 99, of Haverford, who played his first soccer on the lots of Logan and later put Penn soccer on the Ivy League map during a half-century of service, died Wednesday, April 9, at his home at the Quadrangle.

Known to friends as Charley, he was a soccer standout from the start. While at Penn's Wharton School, he captained the 1935 soccer team, attaining All-American status.

Three years after graduating, he returned to the university in 1939 to become the freshman soccer coach; he rose to head coach in 1943.

In 1941, Mr. Scott became one of the 10 founders of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, which now has 30,000 members. He served as president in 1956 and received the group's Honor Award in 1966.

In 1993, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. During 23 years of being head coach, he won 141 games and had 22 winning seasons.

His teams won or shared seven Ivy League titles. He coached 21 players who also became all-Americans.

Mr. Scott served as chairman of the NCAA Soccer Rules Committee, and on the U.S. Olympic Soccer Committee. In 1948 and 1956, he helped train the U.S. Olympic soccer team.

Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from Simon Gratz High School and served in the Navy during World War II.

He earned a master of education degree from Penn in 1942 and started out there teaching physical education. He became Penn's assistant athletic director in 1953 and helped form Philadelphia's Big 5 basketball league.

In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1981, and into the Penn Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.

His final title was associate athletic director, although he filled in for the athletic director three separate times. In 1981, after almost 50 years on campus, he retired to take up tennis.

"He played until age 93," said his son, Charles R., known as Bob. "It was amazing."

Sports were important to Mr. Scott, but so was his Christian faith. He directed Sunday school at the Bala Cynwyd Methodist Church for 25 years. He attended services there for 60 years before joining Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr eight years ago.

Surviving, besides his son, are daughters Jeanne Condos and Bonnie Gleeson; 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

His wife, the former Dora Linton, died in 2004, and a grandson died in 2001.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 14, at Proclamation Presbyterian Church, 278 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr. A reception will follow the service. Interment is private.

Donations may be made to the ministry of Leonard Stewart, Account No. 16832, Mission to the World, Box 116284, Atlanta, Ga. 30368-6284; or to the Charles Scott Endowment at Penn Soccer.

Checks should read: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, with Charles Scott Endowment on the memo line. The mailing address is c/o Matthew Tucker, Penn Athletic Development Office, 235 S. 33d St., Philadelphia 19104.

610-313-8102