COLLEGE STATION, TX -- Texas A&M Soccer Volunteer Assistant Coach Wally Crittenden has been named the recipient of the University of Nebraska’s 2012 Young Alumni Achievement Award, the Nebraska Alumni Association announced.

The award is given to alumni under the age of 40 who have shown exceptional service to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and/or have become distinguished in their profession or community.

Crittenden, who graduated from UNL with a master of higher education administration in 2010, is entering his entering his third season with the Aggies, working as a volunteer goalkeeping coach. Since his time at UNL, Crittenden has helped the soccer team to back-to-back Big 12 Championships and two consecutive NCAA postseason appearances.

While still at Nebraska, Crittenden helped the Cornhusker soccer team to 12 shutouts and launched the Nebraska Soccer Booster Club, an organization that continues to give fans opportunities to support UNL soccer today. He also created the Nebraska Sports Institute, now known as the Ultimate Athlete Lab, as a liaison between athletic and academic departments.

An entrepreneur in his field, Crittenden founded and is president of Global Youth Sports Initiative (GYSI), which encompasses the Brazos Valley Youth Sports Foundation (BVYSF). The BVYSF is dedicated to developing youth’s life skills and global awareness through free curriculum, training and educating coaches, parents and mentors, increasing the participation of at-risk youths and improving community facilities. The GYSI has also created new foundations in Nebraska and Louisiana.

Crittenden and the Big 12 Champion Aggies will enter the Southeastern Conference this summer and begin action on August 17 with the annual Maroon & White Match at Ellis Field. To learn more about Texas A&M soccer, log on to AggieAthletics.com or follow @AggieSoccer on Twitter.