Lyle Yorks
Encyclopedia
Lyle Yorks is a retired American soccer midfielder
who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League
, USISL and Major League Soccer
. He was the 1987 Gatorade National Player of the Year and was a member of the U.S. soccer teams at both the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
and 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship. He is the Managing Director of James Grant Sports.
High School All American and in 1987, he was the Gatorade National Player of the Year. In 1988, he entered the University of Virginia
where he played on the 1989 and 1991 NCAA Championship
soccer team. He captained the team in 1991 as the Cavaliers tied with the Santa Clara Broncos
for the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. He graduated with a bachelor degree in sociology from Virginia and later earned a masters degree in sports management from the University of San Francisco
.
which went 1-2 in the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
. Yorks played all three games. In 1989, he played two games for the U.S. U-20 national team
which took fourth place at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship.
of the National Professional Soccer League. He played only five games before being waived on January 7, 1993 in order to free up a roster spot for Paul Wright
. Yorks then moved to Denmark where he signed with Næstved BK
for the 1993-1994 Danish 1st Division
season. In 1995, he played for the New York Fever of the USISL. In December 1995, he signed with Major League Soccer
as the league prepared for its first season in 1996. However, he was not selected in the January 1996 MLS drafts. In February 1998, Yorks was invited to the D.C. United
training camp. On March 10, 1998, United signed Yorks. He played one game, then was waived on May 11, 1998. A month later, he played an exhibition game with the Richmond Kickers
. The team hoped to sign him for the remainder of the regular season, but Yorks retired from playing professionally.
from 1995 to 1997 as well as one season at Stanford University
.
He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played professionally 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...
, USISL and 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...
. He was the 1987 Gatorade National Player of the Year and was a member of the U.S. soccer teams at both the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship was held in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Dalian in People's Republic of China from July 31, 1985 to August 11, 1985...
and 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship. He is the Managing Director of James Grant Sports.
Club
Yorks attended E. O. Smith High School where he was part of a two time state championship soccer team. Yorks was a two time Parade Magazine and NSCAANSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...
High School All American and in 1987, he was the Gatorade National Player of the Year. In 1988, he entered the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he played on the 1989 and 1991 NCAA Championship
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...
soccer team. He captained the team in 1991 as the Cavaliers tied with the Santa Clara Broncos
Santa Clara Broncos
The Broncos are various sports teams of Santa Clara University. The athletic program currently has 19 varsity sports, 9 men's sports and 10 women's. Additionally there are 18 club sports teams that compete intercollegiately. The school colors are red and white...
for the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. He graduated with a bachelor degree in sociology from Virginia and later earned a masters degree in sports management from the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
.
National teams
In 1985, Yorks was a member of the U.S. U-16 national teamUnited States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
which went 1-2 in the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship was held in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Dalian in People's Republic of China from July 31, 1985 to August 11, 1985...
. Yorks played all three games. In 1989, he played two games for the U.S. U-20 national team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
which took fourth place at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Professional
On November 21, 1992, Yorks signed with the Milwaukee WaveMilwaukee 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. He played only five games before being waived on January 7, 1993 in order to free up a roster spot for Paul Wright
Paul Wright (soccer)
Paul Wright is a U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career in the U.S. indoor leagues. He began his career with the San Diego Nomads in the Western Soccer Alliance, led the American Professional Soccer League in scoring in 1994 and played four seasons with the Kansas City Wizards in Major...
. Yorks then moved to Denmark where he signed with Næstved BK
Næstved BK
Næstved Boldklub is a Danish football club currently playing in the Danish 1st Division. They play at Næstved Stadion in Næstved on Zealand, which has a capacity of 10,000, of which around 2,000 are seats....
for the 1993-1994 Danish 1st Division
Danish 1st Division
The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
season. In 1995, he played for the New York Fever of the USISL. In December 1995, he signed with 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...
as the league prepared for its first season in 1996. However, he was not selected in the January 1996 MLS drafts. In February 1998, Yorks was invited to the D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. 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 since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
training camp. On March 10, 1998, United signed Yorks. He played one game, then was waived on May 11, 1998. A month later, he played an exhibition game with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. The team hoped to sign him for the remainder of the regular season, but Yorks retired from playing professionally.
Coach
Following his playing career, Lyle was an assistant coach at the University of California at BerkeleyCalifornia Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
from 1995 to 1997 as well as one season at Stanford University
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
.
He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008.