Jeff Stock
Encyclopedia
Jeff Stock is a retired U.S. soccer defender
who spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League
and two in the Western Soccer Alliance. He also played in the Major Indoor Soccer League
with the Tacoma Stars.
, attended Stadium High School
, graduating in 1978. While in high school, he played baseball
. However, he also played with future Sounders team mate Mark Peterson
on the Norpoint Royals youth club. UCLA offered Stock an athletic scholarship, but he elected to sign a professional soccer contract instead.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) in 1978. He spent both that season and the next on the reserve team under Jimmy Gabriel
before breaking into the first team in 1980. That season, he became a regular left back in the Sounders’ defensive scheme, seeing time in 23 games and scoring one goal. This put him in competition for Rookie of the Year against team mate Mark Peterson
and fellow Seattle area youth defender Jeff Durgan
, now playing with the New York Cosmos
. While Durgan won the award, Stock continued to excel with the Sounders, playing 35 games in both the 1981 and 1982 seasons. In 1983, Stock lost most of the season after blowing out his right knee in the Sounders' fifth game. The Sounders folded at the end of the season and the San Jose Earthquakes
selected Stock in the dispersal draft in anticipation of the upcoming NASL indoor season. However, his knee injury kept out of the line up until the last few games of the season. The Earthquakes then traded him to the Vancouver Whitecaps
. In 1984, he played in 20 games. That year the Whitecaps also competed in the F.C. Seattle Challenge ‘84. The host team, F.C. Seattle, later change its name to the F.C. Seattle Storm, a team Stock joined in 1987. On October 20, 1984, the Whitecaps released Stock.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E3DC1439F933A15753C1A962948260 He then went on trial with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League
, but he aggravated his knee injury and was forced to sit out a year after having athroscopic surgery. In October 1985, Stock with the Tacoma Stars. By this time knee injuries had begun to hinder Stock and the hard surface of an indoor soccer arena exacerbated the problems leading him to retire in December 1986. On March 4, 1987, Stock returned to outdoor soccer with the F.C. Seattle Storm
of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) as a player/assistant coach. The move back to the grass of an outdoor soccer field helped extend his career by a few years. In 1988 he was selected to the WSA All Star team. He also served as an assistant coach in both 1987 and 1988. However, his knees finally gave and in 1989 he retired from playing professionally to devote himself to coaching.
team as well as for the U.S. soccer team which qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow
. Unfortunately for Stock and his team mates, President Jimmy Carter
chose to boycott the games in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
.
Since then Stock has founded the “Coffee Cup” a local college soccer tournament.http://www.seattlesounders.net/pressrelease.php?ID=117
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who spent five seasons in 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:...
and two in the Western Soccer Alliance. He also played in the 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...
with the Tacoma Stars.
Youth
Stock, son of major league baseball pitcher Wes StockWes Stock
Wesley Gay Stock is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, pitching coach and television commentator...
, attended Stadium High School
Stadium High School
Stadium High School is a 100-year-old high school in Tacoma, Washington and a historic landmark. It is part of Tacoma Public Schools, or Tacoma School District No. 10 and is located in the Stadium District, near downtown Tacoma. The original building burned to a shell while it was still a partially...
, graduating in 1978. While in high school, he played baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. However, he also played with future Sounders team mate Mark Peterson
Mark Peterson
Mark Peterson was an American soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer Alliance. He also earned six caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth:Peterson was born and raised in...
on the Norpoint Royals youth club. UCLA offered Stock an athletic scholarship, but he elected to sign a professional soccer contract instead.
Professional
Stock signed with the Seattle SoundersSeattle 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) in 1978. He spent both that season and the next on the reserve team under Jimmy Gabriel
Jimmy Gabriel
James Gabriel is a Scottish former football midfielder who earned two caps with the Scotland national football team. Chiefly associated with English club Everton, Gabriel played extensively in Scotland and England before ending his career with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer...
before breaking into the first team in 1980. That season, he became a regular left back in the Sounders’ defensive scheme, seeing time in 23 games and scoring one goal. This put him in competition for Rookie of the Year against team mate Mark Peterson
Mark Peterson
Mark Peterson was an American soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer Alliance. He also earned six caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth:Peterson was born and raised in...
and fellow Seattle area youth defender Jeff Durgan
Jeff Durgan
Jeffrey "Jeff" Durgan is a retired U.S. soccer defender who played professionally for the New York Cosmos and seven times for the U.S. national team.-NASL:...
, now playing with the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
. While Durgan won the award, Stock continued to excel with the Sounders, playing 35 games in both the 1981 and 1982 seasons. In 1983, Stock lost most of the season after blowing out his right knee in the Sounders' fifth game. The Sounders folded at the end of the season and 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....
selected Stock in the dispersal draft in anticipation of the upcoming NASL indoor season. However, his knee injury kept out of the line up until the last few games of the season. The Earthquakes then traded him to the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
. In 1984, he played in 20 games. That year the Whitecaps also competed in the F.C. Seattle Challenge ‘84. The host team, F.C. Seattle, later change its name to the F.C. Seattle Storm, a team Stock joined in 1987. On October 20, 1984, the Whitecaps released Stock.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E3DC1439F933A15753C1A962948260 He then went on trial with the Tacoma Stars of the 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...
, but he aggravated his knee injury and was forced to sit out a year after having athroscopic surgery. In October 1985, Stock with the Tacoma Stars. By this time knee injuries had begun to hinder Stock and the hard surface of an indoor soccer arena exacerbated the problems leading him to retire in December 1986. On March 4, 1987, Stock returned to outdoor soccer with the F.C. Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm (soccer)
Football Club Seattle Storm, also known as the F.C. Seattle Storm, was an American soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues. In addition to...
of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) as a player/assistant coach. The move back to the grass of an outdoor soccer field helped extend his career by a few years. In 1988 he was selected to the WSA All Star team. He also served as an assistant coach in both 1987 and 1988. However, his knees finally gave and in 1989 he retired from playing professionally to devote himself to coaching.
National team
While never called up to the senior national team, Stock saw time with the U.S. U-19 team. He then went on to play for the U.S. Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
team as well as for the U.S. soccer team which qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Unfortunately for Stock and his team mates, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
chose to boycott the games in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Post soccer career
After retiring from soccer, Stock entered the real estate market, going on to buy two theme parks, Wild Waves and Enchanted Village. Stock with 50% partner Michael Moodenbaugh purchased the two parks from Byron Betts in 1992 for $8 million. Eight years later, he sold the two parks, now merged into one for $19.2 million. Stock took over management of the park in 2011 for the owners CNL Lifestyle Properties of Orlando, Stock has been a continuous owner of the land the park is located on.http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/20/1552346/business-qa-wild-waves-jeff-stock.htmlSince then Stock has founded the “Coffee Cup” a local college soccer tournament.http://www.seattlesounders.net/pressrelease.php?ID=117