AMERICUS — Georgia Southwestern’s Barry Kaplan is making history.

For the third time in his coaching career, he has been appointed appointed by Maccabi USA to coach a youth men’s soccer team at the 11th Pan American Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He will coach the U-18 team that will represent the United States. His two previous stints were as coach for the U-16 team. The Games will take place Dec. 26-Jan. 2.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity for me,” said Kaplan, who coaches both the men’s and women’s soccer programs at GSW. “This one of the highest honors you can get as an athlete or coach. It’s rare to get multiple appointments, and to represent your country, sport and faith is a very unique honor.”

The Pan-Am Games consist of all players and coaches from the Jewish faith. Kaplan coached U-16 teams in 2000 in Brazil and then in Israel in 2005.

Kaplan’s teams this year at GSW participated in their first season in Division II. While the programs are still on the rise, the men’s team did have an all-conference player in Etchu Tabe.

Before coming to GSW, Kaplan coached at St. Thomas University in Miami, and he was Director of Soccer Operations for the Miami Fusion, one of the original franchises of the Major Soccer League.

Phyllis Magerman, General Chair of the U.S. 11th Pan American Maccabi Games Organizing Committee, said Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel will send a contingent of more than 600 to the Games, joining about 3,000 athletes from more than 20 countries.

Since 1948, Maccabi USA has sought to enrich the lives of Jewish youth in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora through athletic, cultural and educational programs.

The organization is the sponsor of the U.S. Team to the World Maccabi Games in Israel, the world’s third largest sporting event. It also sponsors U.S. participation in Maccabi competitions in Pan America, Europe and Australia and supports Jewish youth through the JCC Maccabi Games.