Darren Sawatzky
Encyclopedia
Darren Sawatzky was a U.S. soccer player who spent four seasons in Major League Soccer
. He also played one season in Major Indoor Soccer League, one in USISL and five in the United Soccer Leagues
. He currently holds several coaching positions at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.
in Federal Way, Washington
. After graduating from high school, Sawatzky entered the University of Portland
. He played for the University of Portland Pilots soccer team from 1991 to 1994, finishing his career tenth on the career scoring list. He graduated from Portland with a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication.
in 1995, but did not earn a contract with either team. In 1996, he went on trial with Leicester City, but was not signed. In February 1996, the New England Revolution
of Major League Soccer
(MLS) selected Sawatzky in the eighth round (75th overall) in the Inaugural MLS Draft
. He played nineteen games, scoring four goals that season. In 1997, his playing time dropped to five games as the Revolution loaned him to both the Connecticut Wolves
and Worcester Wildfire of the USISL A-League. The Revolution released Sawatzky on November 10, 1997. In 1998, the Dallas Burn of MLS selected Sawatzky in the third round (thirty-fourth overall) of the 1998 Supplemental Draft
. However, he played only a total of three minutes for the Burn as they loaned him out first to the New Orleans Storm
then the Hershey Wildcats
before releasing him. Sawatzky then signed with the Charleston Battery
, playing nineteen games in the 1998 season. In 1999, the Colorado Rapids
of MLS took Sawatzky in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1999 Supplemental Draft
. He played fourteen games for the Rapids in 1999, then was waived on November 24, 1999. In April 2000, the Seattle Sounders of the United Soccer Leagues
(USL). He tied for third in the league with sixteen goals, earning first team All Star recognition. In 2001, he played a single season with the expansion Portland Timbers. On December 20, 2001, the Timbers released Sawatzky. He then moved to the Kansas City Comets
of Major Indoor Soccer League. In February 2002, he rejoined the Sounders as a free agent. He saw declining minutes with the Sounders over the next two seasons and on July 23, 2004, he announced his intentions to retire at the end of the season to devote himself full time to coaching.
in Portland, Oregon
while playing with the Timbers. When he moved to Seattle in 2002, he became the head coach at his alma mater
, Jefferson High School
. In 2005, he took Jefferson to the 4A Washington State Championship. In 2004, he became an assistant coach with the University of Washington
. On February 21, 2007, Sawatzky joined the Seattle Sounders
as an assistant coach. He also serves as the Director of Coaching for HPFC, a youth club in Washington State. He coached and helped almost every team for the HPFC boys and girls club teams, including HPFC Boys 94 blue and HPFC Girls 95 Blue.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He also played one season in Major Indoor Soccer League, one in USISL and five in the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
. He currently holds several coaching positions at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.
High school and college
Sawatzky grew up in the Seattle area, playing for the Highline club as a youth. He attended Jefferson High SchoolThomas Jefferson High School (Federal Way, Washington)
Thomas Jefferson High School is located in Auburn, Washington. It is the largest enrolled High School in the district and one of the largest in the State of Washington. The school is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, which means that the staff has adopted ten principles that are...
in Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
. After graduating from high school, Sawatzky entered the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
. He played for the University of Portland Pilots soccer team from 1991 to 1994, finishing his career tenth on the career scoring list. He graduated from Portland with a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication.
Professional
In 1995, Sawatzky signed with the expansion Oregon Surge in USISL. He also had trials with Mexican clubs UNAM Pumas and LeonClub León
Club León, is a Mexican professional football club based in the city of León, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. They currently play in the Liga De Ascenso formerly known as "Primera A", the second tier of football in Mexico since their relegation from the Primera Division in 2002.León has won...
in 1995, but did not earn a contract with either team. In 1996, he went on trial with Leicester City, but was not signed. In February 1996, the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) selected Sawatzky in the eighth round (75th overall) in the Inaugural MLS Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played nineteen games, scoring four goals that season. In 1997, his playing time dropped to five games as the Revolution loaned him to both the Connecticut Wolves
Connecticut Wolves
The Connecticut Wolves were a soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leagues from 1993 to 2002. Based in New Britain, Connecticut, and playing in Veteran's Stadium, the club started in the D-3 Pro League before moving to the A-League in 1997.-History:...
and Worcester Wildfire of the USISL A-League. The Revolution released Sawatzky on November 10, 1997. In 1998, the Dallas Burn of MLS selected Sawatzky in the third round (thirty-fourth overall) of the 1998 Supplemental Draft
1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
The three-round 1998 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on February 1, 1998 at the Airport Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.-Format:Major League Soccer held a professional player combine in Fort Lauderdale the last week of January 1998. On Saturday, January 31, 1998, the league held...
. However, he played only a total of three minutes for the Burn as they loaned him out first to the New Orleans Storm
New Orleans Storm
The New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers was an American soccer club that competed in the USISL from 1993 to 1999. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, the club was renamed the New Orleans Storm in 1998. The team folded after the 1999 season.-History:...
then the Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats were a professional soccer team, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001. The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company...
before releasing him. Sawatzky then signed with the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, playing nineteen games in the 1998 season. In 1999, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
of MLS took Sawatzky in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1999 Supplemental Draft
1999 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1999 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:...
. He played fourteen games for the Rapids in 1999, then was waived on November 24, 1999. In April 2000, the Seattle Sounders of the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
(USL). He tied for third in the league with sixteen goals, earning first team All Star recognition. In 2001, he played a single season with the expansion Portland Timbers. On December 20, 2001, the Timbers released Sawatzky. He then moved to the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
of Major Indoor Soccer League. In February 2002, he rejoined the Sounders as a free agent. He saw declining minutes with the Sounders over the next two seasons and on July 23, 2004, he announced his intentions to retire at the end of the season to devote himself full time to coaching.
Coach
Sawatzky began coaching in 1991 with the Tualatin Hills Soccer Club. Over the years, he continued to coach with various youth clubs as his playing career allowed. In 2001, he became an assistant coach with Central Catholic High SchoolCentral Catholic High School (Portland, Oregon)
Central Catholic High School is a co-educational, private high school in Portland, Oregon, United States. Central Catholic is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, and is the only archdiocesan high school in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland....
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
while playing with the Timbers. When he moved to Seattle in 2002, he became the head coach at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School (Federal Way, Washington)
Thomas Jefferson High School is located in Auburn, Washington. It is the largest enrolled High School in the district and one of the largest in the State of Washington. The school is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, which means that the staff has adopted ten principles that are...
. In 2005, he took Jefferson to the 4A Washington State Championship. In 2004, he became an assistant coach with the University of Washington
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
. On February 21, 2007, Sawatzky joined the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
as an assistant coach. He also serves as the Director of Coaching for HPFC, a youth club in Washington State. He coached and helped almost every team for the HPFC boys and girls club teams, including HPFC Boys 94 blue and HPFC Girls 95 Blue.