Jeff Betts
Encyclopedia
Jeff Betts is a former U.S. soccer forward
and coach who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time All Star and the 2000 World Indoor Soccer League
Coach of the Year.
In 1989, he led the team in scoring with 32 points on 10 goals and 12 assists. The 12 assists remains a San Diego single season record. He appears to have taken a year off from school before finishing his collegiate career with two seasons at the University of Portland
in 1991 and 1992. He graduated in 1993.
in the American Professional Soccer League
. He played three games before the Strikers waived him on June 18, 1993. He then signed with the Portland Pride
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL). The CISL was a summer indoor league. That fall, he signed with the Milwaukee Wave
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) which played a winter indoor schedule. In 1994, he returned to the Pride and continued to play each summer with the team until the CISL collapsed following the 1997 season. His 139 goals put him sixth on the CISL’s all time goals list and his 127 assists are fifth all time. In 1995, he scored 35 goals in 27 games, gaining him a place on the CISL All Star team. He was the All Star Game Offensive MVP. On February 7, 1996, the San Jose Clash selected Betts in the 7th round (68th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He did not sign with the Clash. Following the collapse of the CISL in 1997, several teams formed the Premier Soccer Alliance. With the new league, the Pride ownership chose to rename the team the Portland Pythons
. This season, Betts scored 19 goals in 12 games and a spot on the All Star team. In 1998, Betts returned to the NPSL, this time with the Florida Thundercats
. In 1999, the PSA was renamed the World Indoor Soccer League
. At some point, Betts may have also played for the Arizona Thunder
. In 2000, he served as coach for the Utah Freezz
as well as playing for the team. He was the 2000 WISL Coach of the Year. By the time the WISL ceased operations in 2001, Betts ranked third all time in WISL goals with 53 and sixth all time in assists with 39. The Freezz folded in 2001. On November 14, 2002, the Dallas Sidekicks
of the Major Indoor Soccer League signed Betts. He played fourteen games, then left the team on February 6, 2003.
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...
and coach who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time All Star and the 2000 World Indoor Soccer League
World Indoor Soccer League
The World Indoor Soccer League was a United States based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.-History:...
Coach of the Year.
College
Betts began his collegiate soccer career at San Diego State University in 1988.In 1989, he led the team in scoring with 32 points on 10 goals and 12 assists. The 12 assists remains a San Diego single season record. He appears to have taken a year off from school before finishing his collegiate career with two seasons at 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...
in 1991 and 1992. He graduated in 1993.
Professional
In 1993, he signed with the Fort Lauderdale StrikersFort Lauderdale Strikers (APSL)
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers were an American soccer team established in 1988 as part of the third American Soccer League. In 1990, it moved to the American Professional Soccer League where it spent five seasons before folding in 1994...
in 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...
. He played three games before the Strikers waived him on June 18, 1993. He then signed with the Portland Pride
Portland Pride
The Portland Pride are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997.-History:In 1993, a new league, the Continental Indoor Soccer League began its first season. Traditionally, indoor soccer has been a winter sport, but the CISL decided to...
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
(CISL). The CISL was a summer indoor league. That fall, he signed with the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) which played a winter indoor schedule. In 1994, he returned to the Pride and continued to play each summer with the team until the CISL collapsed following the 1997 season. His 139 goals put him sixth on the CISL’s all time goals list and his 127 assists are fifth all time. In 1995, he scored 35 goals in 27 games, gaining him a place on the CISL All Star team. He was the All Star Game Offensive MVP. On February 7, 1996, the San Jose Clash selected Betts in the 7th round (68th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player 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 did not sign with the Clash. Following the collapse of the CISL in 1997, several teams formed the Premier Soccer Alliance. With the new league, the Pride ownership chose to rename the team the Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Premier Soccer Alliance in 1998 which changed its name to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team folded at the end of the 1999 season.-History:...
. This season, Betts scored 19 goals in 12 games and a spot on the All Star team. In 1998, Betts returned to the NPSL, this time with the Florida Thundercats
Florida Thundercats
The Florida Thundercats were a basketball team based in Leesburg, Florida. They played in the new American Basketball Association from 2009–2011. They played their home games at Everett A. Kelly Convocation Center on the campus of Lake-Sumter Community College.The Thundercats were founded in 2009...
. In 1999, the PSA was renamed the World Indoor Soccer League
World Indoor Soccer League
The World Indoor Soccer League was a United States based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.-History:...
. At some point, Betts may have also played for the Arizona Thunder
Arizona Thunder
The Arizona Thunder was a professional indoor soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1997, the team was a member of the Premier Soccer Alliance. In 1998, the alliance, with some additional teams, reconstituted itself as the World Indoor Soccer League . The Thunder continued to play in the...
. In 2000, he served as coach for the Utah Freezz
Utah Freezz
The Utah Freezz were an indoor soccer team based in West Valley City, Utah, United States. The Freezz were an expansion team of the formed World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team played in the E Center....
as well as playing for the team. He was the 2000 WISL Coach of the Year. By the time the WISL ceased operations in 2001, Betts ranked third all time in WISL goals with 53 and sixth all time in assists with 39. The Freezz folded in 2001. On November 14, 2002, the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League signed Betts. He played fourteen games, then left the team on February 6, 2003.