Jacques LaDouceur
Encyclopedia
Jacques LaDouceur is a retired Haitian-American soccer forward
. He played two seasons in Greece before returning to the U.S. for eight seasons of indoor soccer
. He also earned ten caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team
in 1984 and 1985.
, Haiti
, LaDouceur grew up the youngest of four children raised by a single mother. In 1967, his mother gained an opportunity to move to the U.S. to work in the textile industry. In the fall of 1969, his mother had saved enough money to move the family to the U.S. and on December 12, 1969, LaDouceur landed at Kennedy Airport in New York City
. He went on to attend Fulton-Montgomery Community College
in Johnstown, New York
before transferring to Howard University
.
club Panionios in 1982. In 1984, he returned to the U.S. where he signed with the San Diego Sockers of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He remained with the Sockers for eight seasons, leaving the team during the 1992-1993 season. During those years, the Sockers won six league championships. LaDouceur finished the 1992-1993 season with the Chicago Power
of the National Professional Soccer League. He played four games with the Power, scoring one goal, then retired. In 1988, he spent the summer outdoor season with the San Jose Earthquakes
in the Western Soccer Alliance.
in 1984 and 1985. He made his debut in an October 9, 1984 victory over El Salvador
. He came on as a substitute for Perry Van der Beck
and promptly scored. Jeff Hooker
also scored a goal in the game, his first for the national team, making this one of the few games where two players score while earning their first caps. He played every national team game following that appearance, up to an April 4, 1985 tie with Canada
. His next, and last game, with the national team came a month later in a June 16, 1985 loss to England
.
, a community college
in San Diego, California
and a coach at the TVSA Hawks for the BU16 team in Temecula, California.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He played two seasons in Greece before returning to the U.S. for eight seasons of indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
. He also earned ten caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1984 and 1985.
Youth and college
Born in Port-au-PrincePort-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, LaDouceur grew up the youngest of four children raised by a single mother. In 1967, his mother gained an opportunity to move to the U.S. to work in the textile industry. In the fall of 1969, his mother had saved enough money to move the family to the U.S. and on December 12, 1969, LaDouceur landed at Kennedy Airport in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He went on to attend Fulton-Montgomery Community College
Fulton-Montgomery Community College
Fulton-Montgomery Community College is a two-year college located in Johnstown, New York. The college is a part of the State University of New York and serves Fulton and Montgomery counties. The college offers 45 degree and certificate programs, 30 campus clubs, and is a member of the NJCAA,...
in Johnstown, New York
Johnstown (city), New York
Johnstown is a city and the county seat of Fulton County in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 Census, the city had population of 8,511. Recent estimates put the figure closer to 8,100. The city was named by its founder, Sir William Johnson after his son John Johnson...
before transferring to Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
.
Professional career
LaDouceur began his professional career with Greek First DivisionSuper League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
club Panionios in 1982. In 1984, he returned to the U.S. where he signed with the San Diego Sockers of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). He remained with the Sockers for eight seasons, leaving the team during the 1992-1993 season. During those years, the Sockers won six league championships. LaDouceur finished the 1992-1993 season with the Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League. He played four games with the Power, scoring one goal, then retired. In 1988, he spent the summer outdoor season with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in the Western Soccer Alliance.
National team
LaDouceur earned ten caps and scored two goals with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1984 and 1985. He made his debut in an October 9, 1984 victory over El Salvador
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
. He came on as a substitute for Perry Van der Beck
Perry Van der Beck
Perry Van der Beck is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder and manager and a current soccer executive....
and promptly scored. Jeff Hooker
Jeff Hooker
Jeff Hooker is a retired U.S. soccer forward who currently coaches the University of Denver women's soccer team. Hooker earned twelve caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team between 1984 and 1987 and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team...
also scored a goal in the game, his first for the national team, making this one of the few games where two players score while earning their first caps. He played every national team game following that appearance, up to an April 4, 1985 tie with Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
. His next, and last game, with the national team came a month later in a June 16, 1985 loss to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Coaching
After retiring from playing professionally, LaDouceur joined the coaching ranks. He is both a youth coach as well as the women's coach at Palomar CollegePalomar College
Palomar College is a community college with one campus and six education sites in San Diego County, California. The main campus is located in San Marcos, while the six education sites are located elsewhere throughout north San Diego County. The largest of these is the education center located in...
, a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and a coach at the TVSA Hawks for the BU16 team in Temecula, California.