Dean Wurzberger
Encyclopedia
Dean Wurzberger is a U.S. soccer coach who was a reserve team player with the Seattle Sounders
of the North American Soccer League
. He later spent three seasons in the American Soccer League
and most recently served as Head Coach for the University of Washington
men's soccer team, a position he held since 1992.
Wurzberger attended San Diego State University
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1971 to 1974. In 1975, he signed with the Seattle Sounders
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). However, in his three years with the Sounders, he never cracked the first team. After seeing no success in Seattle, he moved to the California Sunshine
, which was based out of Orange County, California
, of the American Soccer League
(ASL) in 1979.
Wurzberger completed his bachelor’s degree requirements at Sacramento State
in 1982. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in 1985. Both degrees were in physical education. In 1985, he became the head coach of the school’s soccer team and took the team to an 8-8-5 record. The next year, UCLA hired Wurzberger as an assistant coach on the Bruin’s soccer team.
In 1989, the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
of the Western Soccer League
(WSL) hired Wurzberger as the team’s first coach. Wurzberger took his first year team to an 11-5 record and a spot in the championship game where they lost to the San Diego Nomads
. Between the 1989 and 1990 season, the WSL merged with the east-coast based American Soccer League
(ASL) to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). Wurzberger continued to lead the Blackhawks to great success as the team ran to a 13-7 record and another spot in the title game. However, the team again came up short, this time losing to the Maryland Bays
.
In 1991, Wurzberger left the Blackhawks to become an assistant coach under Steve Sampson
at Santa Clara University
. In his one season with Santa Clara, saw the Broncos lose to the University of Virginia
in the NCAA championship game
.
In 1992, Wurzberger moved to Seattle, Washington
to become the first full time head coach of the University of Washington
men’s soccer team. He resigned that position December 12, 2010.
In addition to coaching the UW Huskies, Wurzberger was an assistant coach for the U.S. soccer team at the 1993 World University Games
. Then in 1997 he was an assistant coach of the U.S. U-18 national and the head coach of the U.S. U-16 national team in 1998.
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He later spent three seasons in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and most recently served as Head Coach for the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
men's soccer team, a position he held since 1992.
Wurzberger attended San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1971 to 1974. In 1975, he signed with the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). However, in his three years with the Sounders, he never cracked the first team. After seeing no success in Seattle, he moved to the California Sunshine
California Sunshine (soccer)
The California Sunshine was an American soccer club based in Fountain Valley, California that was a member of the American Soccer League. The team was owned by Dr. Robert Everakes and his wife Alexandra, who was the general manager...
, which was based out of Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL) in 1979.
Wurzberger completed his bachelor’s degree requirements at Sacramento State
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
in 1982. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in 1985. Both degrees were in physical education. In 1985, he became the head coach of the school’s soccer team and took the team to an 8-8-5 record. The next year, UCLA hired Wurzberger as an assistant coach on the Bruin’s soccer team.
In 1989, the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks was a professional soccer team which came into existence in 1989 as a team in the Western Soccer League . The Blackhawks spent time in the American Professional Soccer League and the United States Interregional Soccer League...
of the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
(WSL) hired Wurzberger as the team’s first coach. Wurzberger took his first year team to an 11-5 record and a spot in the championship game where they lost to the San Diego Nomads
San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
. Between the 1989 and 1990 season, the WSL merged with the east-coast based American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL) to form the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). Wurzberger continued to lead the Blackhawks to great success as the team ran to a 13-7 record and another spot in the title game. However, the team again came up short, this time losing to the Maryland Bays
Maryland Bays
The Maryland Bays were an inaugural franchise of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988.They were based in Catonsville, Maryland, and played their games at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL...
.
In 1991, Wurzberger left the Blackhawks to become an assistant coach under Steve Sampson
Steve Sampson
Steve Sampson is a soccer coach and the former head coach of the United States men's national team and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer...
at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
. In his one season with Santa Clara, saw the Broncos lose to the University of Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in the NCAA championship game
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
.
In 1992, Wurzberger moved to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
to become the first full time head coach of the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
men’s soccer team. He resigned that position December 12, 2010.
In addition to coaching the UW Huskies, Wurzberger was an assistant coach for the U.S. soccer team at the 1993 World University Games
1993 Summer Universiade
The 1993 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVII Summer Universiade, took place in Buffalo, New York, United States of America.-Medal table:-External links:*...
. Then in 1997 he was an assistant coach of the U.S. U-18 national and the head coach of the U.S. U-16 national team in 1998.