Mark Dougherty (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Dougherty is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who played in the Western Soccer League
, American Professional Soccer League
, USISL and Major League Soccer
. He is a goalkeeper coach with the U.S. women national team
.
and attended Monta Vista High School
where he played on the boy’s soccer team. After high school, he Fresno State University where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1989. His freshman year, the Bulldogs went to the NCAA final four. Dougherty was team captain his junior and senior seasons and finished his career with thirty-eight shutouts and a .76 career goals against average
.
of the Western Soccer League
(WSL). He backstopped the team to the WSL championship games. Then, in 1990, the WSL merged with the American Soccer League
to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). The Blackhawks again went to the championship game, but came up short again. In 1991, Dougherty had a .81 GAA as the Blackhawks won the title. Dougherty made two saves during the penalty game shootout and was named the championship MVP and a first team All Star. In 1993, the team owner moved the Blackhawks from the APSL to the USISL and renamed the team the San Jose Hawks. The Hawks took their division with a 14-2 record, making the Sizzlin’ Six tournament before folding at the end of the season.
In 1995, Dougherty was with the Hawaii Tsunami
(USISL) as both a player and assistant coach.
In February 1996, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
selected Dougherty in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He spent the 1996 and 1997 seasons Mutiny before being traded to the Columbus Crew
. In 1996, he was an All Star. While Dougherty was the Crew’s main goalkeeper from 1998 to 2000, he played only two games in 2001 after suffering a knee injury. He retired from playing at the end of the season.
hired Dougherty as an assistant soccer coach. He then moved to the Colorado Rapids
where he was a goalkeeper coach. The Rapids fired him on January 2005 after new head coach Fernando Clavijo
brought in John Murphy
as the goalkeeper coach. Dougherty then became the goalkeeper coach with the U.S. women’s national team
.
After taking a few years off from coaching, Mark coached his son and 9 other boys during the fall 2008 soccer season. The Colorado Rush "Crush" U10 recorded 9 wins and lost only once, eventually winning the Gold A1 bracket.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played in 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...
, 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...
, 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 is a goalkeeper coach with the U.S. women national team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
.
High school and college
Dougherty grew up in Cupertino, CaliforniaCupertino, California
Cupertino is an affluent suburban city in Santa Clara County, California in the U.S., directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The population was 58,302 at the time of the 2010 census. Forbes...
and attended Monta Vista High School
Monta Vista High School
Monta Vista High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in the Silicon Valley city of Cupertino, California, USA. Part of the Fremont Union High School District, the school serves most of the suburban residential and industrial technology enriched area of western Cupertino...
where he played on the boy’s soccer team. After high school, he Fresno State University where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1989. His freshman year, the Bulldogs went to the NCAA final four. Dougherty was team captain his junior and senior seasons and finished his career with thirty-eight shutouts and a .76 career goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
.
Professional career
In 1989, Dougherty signed with the expansion San Francisco Bay BlackhawksSan 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). He backstopped the team to the WSL championship games. Then, in 1990, the WSL merged with 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...
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). The Blackhawks again went to the championship game, but came up short again. In 1991, Dougherty had a .81 GAA as the Blackhawks won the title. Dougherty made two saves during the penalty game shootout and was named the championship MVP and a first team All Star. In 1993, the team owner moved the Blackhawks from the APSL to the USISL and renamed the team the San Jose Hawks. The Hawks took their division with a 14-2 record, making the Sizzlin’ Six tournament before folding at the end of the season.
In 1995, Dougherty was with the Hawaii Tsunami
Hawaii Tsunami
The Hawaii Tsunami were a soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leaguesfrom 1994 to 1997. The club was based in Honolulu, Hawaii.-Year-by-year:...
(USISL) as both a player and assistant coach.
In February 1996, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
selected Dougherty in the first round (seventh overall) of 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 spent the 1996 and 1997 seasons Mutiny before being traded to the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. In 1996, he was an All Star. While Dougherty was the Crew’s main goalkeeper from 1998 to 2000, he played only two games in 2001 after suffering a knee injury. He retired from playing at the end of the season.
Coaching
On March 5, 2002 Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
hired Dougherty as an assistant soccer coach. He then moved to the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado 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...
where he was a goalkeeper coach. The Rapids fired him on January 2005 after new head coach Fernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo is a retired American soccer football defender and former head coach of the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. He played three seasons in the American Soccer League, two in the North American Soccer League and ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
brought in John Murphy
John Murphy
-In politics:*John Murphy , American Democratic Governor and Congressman from Alabama*John Murphy , Member of the UK Parliament for East Kerry, 1900–1910*John W...
as the goalkeeper coach. Dougherty then became the goalkeeper coach with the U.S. women’s national team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
.
After taking a few years off from coaching, Mark coached his son and 9 other boys during the fall 2008 soccer season. The Colorado Rush "Crush" U10 recorded 9 wins and lost only once, eventually winning the Gold A1 bracket.