MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
WARREN, Mich. – Thaier Muhktar, the longtime varsity boys soccer coach at Warren De La Salle Collegiate, will be honored at the 2025 Christian Brothers’ Dinner.
Muhktar, also a veteran De La Salle social studies teacher, will be the guest of honor at the 44th edition of the event. The prestigious community event – a longtime fundraising staple of De La Salle – is an excellent networking tool for businessmen throughout Macomb County and the Metropolitan Detroit area.
Next year’s Dinner will take place on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Penna’s of Sterling in Sterling Heights, Mich.
“To get this honor, I think it’s a form of being recognized for what I’ve given back to the school,” said Mukhtar said. “So, it means a ton to me, as far as that goes. I’m always the type of person that whatever I can do to help the school, I’m going to do it,” said Muhktar in a press release. “I’m going to be that person who steps up and does extra, whatever it may be. For the committee that’s chosen me, I really appreciate they thought that much of me to put me up there.”
Mukhtar has been an exemplary faculty and staff member at De La Salle Collegiate for nearly three decades. He became an educator in the Social Studies department during the 1995-96 school year, and since then has become one of the most beloved teachers in the building. He has molded the hearts and minds of countless number of DLS alumni and is frequently referred to as the favorite teacher among Pilots students.
Besides being an impact and a highly-regarded teacher, he has successfully guided the De La Salle soccer program during two separate stints at the helm of the Pilots program – from 1983-2011 and again from 2018 to the present. Over the course of those two tenures, he has made 12 trips to the Final Four, including most recently the 2023 campaign, and has captured five state championships (1990, 1992, 1993, 2000, and 2005), all in Class A or Division 1.
Muhktar also coached at Fraser High School from 2012-2017 and led that school to one Final Four appearance in Division 1 (20-14).
He’s also the all-time winningest high school boys soccer coach in the state of Michigan with 667 victories to his name.
Muhktar’s Pilots reached the Division 2 state semifinals last season, its first since dropping down to D-2, and should not only be a top 15 team again this season in D-2 but a top 25 program overall. Fall sports begin Aug. 12 for MHSAA member schools.
Mukhtar hopes that by being honored it will inspire alumni he’s coached and taught to give back to De La Salle, whether in time, talent, or treasure.
“I hope it motivates alumni to come back and give the respect to the school that helped nurture them, molded them, disciplined them, spiritually motivated them to be the people that they are today, to be the fathers they are today, to be the husbands they are today, to be the successful members of our community they are today,” offered Mukhtar. “To me, that’s the most important thing. I always tell my soccer players: ‘You think what I’m teaching you right now is soccer. What I’m teaching you is if you want something bad enough in life, you’ve got to go get it. Life is competition. Go get it.’”
De La Salle Advancement Director Greg Esler believes Mukhtar has long been deserving of the title of Christian Brothers’ Dinner honoree.
“I think there’s no question he’s the greatest coach in the history of De La Salle,” said Esler of Mukhtar. “For starters, he’s a proven winner. He’s won five state championships. That’s an incredible feat. He’s maintained excellence through all his years of coaching. In that respect, he’s been, in my opinion, the Nick Saban or Mike Krzyzewski of high school soccer coaches in the state of Michigan. And even with all that said, I think he’s a better person than coach. He, to me, is the definition of a great family man. We’ve been blessed to have him at De La Salle, and I believe he’s beyond deserving of this honor.” Mukhtar has instilled tremendous life values in the hundreds of young men he’s coached in his 30-plus years roaming the DLS sidelines.
Additionally, most of these young men have carved out successful professional careers, plus have gone on to support the school in subsequent years. This long list of alumni includes Ben Aloia ‘90, of Aloia Law, Christian Brothers’ Dinner chairman Chris Fett ‘90, of Abbott, Jeff Fratarcangeli ‘91, of Fratarcangeli Wealth Management, and Anthony Rubino ‘01, of the Pilot Property Group.
These four alumni are among the many who have expressed that Mukhtar has had a profound impact on the hard-working, Lasallian men that they have become.
“Thaier, both as a teacher and a coach, has dedicated himself to making De La Salle students better people in the community,” Fett said. “Thaier will attest that he has coached some to the highest level, but his greatest accomplishments are the countless professionals that he has influenced as both an educator and a coach. His achievements off the field are far greater than those on the field. Thaier has influenced so many DLS students that have reached the highest levels of their profession. I, as a father, an alumnus, a husband, and former player can attest that faith, academic excellence, respect for individuals, accountability, and service are all vital components of his message. He embodies the Lasallian mission like so many other great Christian Brothers’ Dinner honorees, and that is the standard we hope all our young men strive to achieve.”
Mukhtar has left an indelible mark – both inside and outside the classroom – on the school, and De La Salle will be forever grateful for it.
For more info on the Christian Brothers and how you can get involved, please contact Chris Fett at chris.fett@abbott.com.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
Interested in internships in broadcasting, communications, journalism, public relations or sales and marketing in the sports world? The Premier Media Group is seeking applications for current college students or students entering their senior or junior years of high school that have a career interest in working in different capacity of a constantly-evolving media world.
Contact both Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner at 248-525-2083 or jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com and Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at (248) 525-2349 and dstickradt@thepremeiermediagrp.com.
COLLECTING MEMORBILIA … THE STUDIO WALLS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network is decorating its studio and conference room walls with soccer-related memorabilia – mainly with Michigan-affiliated teams and franchises or out-of-state programs and franchises with Michigan-affiliated players, coaches and administration.
This includes high school varsity from any school in Michigan with soccer programs, youth club (MLS Next, ECNL, Girls Academy, National Academy League, Elite-64, MSPSP, MSYSA or USYS-affiliated clubs), colleges and universities (NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, NJCAA, NCCAA, USCAA), amateur/pre-professional teams (USL-League Two, USL-W League, Michigan Soccer Association, Midwest Premier League, UPSL, along with NWSL, UWS, WPSL, GLWSL, etc.) and various professional and semi-pro levels (MLS, USL-Championship, MLS Next-Pro, NISA, USL-League One, etc.)
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
ALL-STATE SOCCER LINKS 2024 -- GIRLS SOCCER
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 4 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-4-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 3 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-3-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 2 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-2-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 1 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS:
MIHSSCA DREAM TEAM REVEAL SHOW 2024: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/girls-soccer-all-state-dream-team-offensive-defensive-players-of-the-year-are-a-talented-bunch
GIRLS SOCCER: All-State Dream Team, Offensive, Defensive Players of the Year are a talented bunch: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/girls-soccer-all-state-dream-team-offensive-defensive-players-of-the-year-are-a-talented-bunch
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
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