Wisconsin Soccer Central

Peter Knezic, who's served as the FC Milwaukee Nationals director of coaching since the club's formation in 2000, is leaving his position at the end of the month.

The Cudahy native and former UW-Milwaukee and Milwaukee Wave standout will return to Milwaukee Kickers SC as a staff coach starting March 1 – he was hired as the Nationals' coaching director in 1991, a year after they started as a program within the Kickers.

Knezic, who is being inducted into the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame tonight in Milwaukee, also was the UWM women's coach in 1989 and '90 and has coached prep boys and girls teams at Waukesha Catholic Memorial, Brookfield East and Brookfield Central and men's amateur teams at the Kickers and Milwaukee Serbian SC.

As player, Knezic was an honorable mention All-American at UWM in 1979 and had brief stints with several pro teams before joining the Wave in 1985. He ended up scoring 81 goals in 191 games over five seasons with his hometown team, was named to the inaugural class of the Wave Hall of Fame in 2009 and had his No. 5 jersey retired by the club.

"Peter's return to the Milwaukee Kickers aligns perfectly and succinctly with the 'players first' mind-set of our organization," Kickers executive director Alvaro Garcia-Velez said in a news release.

"His impeccable range of soccer playing and coaching experience, steadfast soccer leadership on and off the field, proven love of the game and solid standing and relationships within the Wisconsin soccer community are just some of the many benefits he brings back to the club."

• Region II champion Wisconsin will face Region I's Eastern Pennsylvania in the 1996 boys semifinals in the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Championships on March 1 at the FC Dallas Stadium Complex in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with a matchup between Region III's North Carolina and Region IV champion California South following at 8 p.m. All four teams also will play on March 3, with the championship and consolation matches both set for 10 a.m.