Brian Thiele, a 1990 graduate of Portage Northern High School, spent four years on the varsity soccer team. Although he loved to play the game, he found just as much as, if not more, excitement and pleasure on the sideline coaching. Thiele was the head junior varsity coach at Northern for a year, assistant varsity coach at Northern and coached several under-16 Premier TKO FC teams.

Founded in 1997, The Brian Thiele Memorial Scholarship Fund has provided financial assistance to Kalamazoo County (Michigan) students who exhibit characteristics similar to those for which Brian is so fondly remembered. This includes playing varsity and/or club soccer, achievement of personal and academic goals, overcoming obstacles to meet his goals, competitive spirit, leadership and a special caring for community.