I consider myself a northwest soccer pioneer. I grew up playing soccer on the East Side on Bellevue Boy’s Club and Lake Hills Soccer Club teams beginning in 1962. Not many people knew what soccer was back then. To see a real game, we went to the Museum of History and Industry and watched black and white films of the European Cup. We watched Highlights of the 1966 World Cup at the Varsity Theater. In 1971, I played on the 1st ever Sammamish HS Team, one of 4 Kingco League Teams.

After I graduated in 1972, I became the coach of the team. In 1973, I played on the 1stever Bellevue CC team. We won the League and State Championship. In 1974, it was very emotional for me to see the original Sounders playing in sold out memorial stadium. I felt the same way in 1994 at sold out Stanford Stadium watching the USA play Brazil in the World Cup on the 4th of July.

My wife, Nancy, is also a youth soccer coach.