Bernie Lilavois
Encyclopedia
Bernie Lilavois is an American soccer forward
who played two seasons in the American Professional Soccer League
, one in the USISL, one in the USL A-League, four in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
, six in the National Professional Soccer League, and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was the head coach of the Stockton Cougars in the Professional Arena Soccer League
and the head coach of the US National Arena Soccer Team. He is currently the Head Coach and a Managing Partner for the Anaheim Bolts.
. He attended La Salle High School
in Pasadena, California
where he holds the school’s record for goal scoring. He is a member of the La Salle Hall of Fame. Lilavois then attended Cal State Northridge, playing on the men’s soccer team in 1988. That year, Northridge finished runner up to Florida Tech in the NCAA Division II championship game.
in the American Professional Soccer League
winning the 1991 title with the team. He then had a brief stint with Ayr United in the Scottish Football League
. In 1994, Lilavois signed with the San Jose Grizzlies
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. The CISL played a summer indoor season. In 1995, he began the season with the Grizzlies, playing seven games before being traded to the Anaheim Splash
on September 1, 1995. He would continue to play for Anaheim through the 1997 CISL season. That year was his most productive for the team, netting 44 goals in 27 games as he was named to the CISL All Star team. Following the 1997 season, the CISL collapsed. In the fall of 1995, Lilavois signed with the Cincinnati Silverbacks
in the National Professional Soccer League which played a winter indoor season. He played only three games for the Silverbacks that season, but scored 31 in 31 games in 1996-1997 and 66 goals in 40 games in 1997-1998. In the summer of 1998, he played for the Charleston Battery
in the USISL. The Silverbacks had folded during the summer of 1998 so Lilavois signed with the Buffalo Blizzard
for the 1998-1999 season. He was traded to the Harrisburg Heat
in March 1999. He went on to play another two season in Harrisburg, scoring a total of 119 goals in 81 games. In the spring of 1999, he joined the Portland Pythons
in the World Indoor Soccer League
. In the summer of 2000, Lilavois returned to outdoor soccer with the Connecticut Wolves
in the USL A-League. Lilavois then moved to the Cleveland Force
for the 2002-2003 Major Indoor Soccer League season. After he played only three games in February and March 2003, he retired. In October 2005, the expansion Stockton Cougars of MISL signed Lilavois as a free agent. He played through the end of the 2006-2007 season, then was forced to retire from playing when he became the head coach. However, he returned on February 23, 2008 when Stockton was hit with several injuries.
team which took third at the CONCACAF
championship. He scored one goal in five games.
In 2011, The PASL announced a new team in the legaue, the Anaheim Bolts. Lilavois was named Head Coach and a Managing Partner.
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...
who played two seasons 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...
, one in the USISL, one in the USL A-League, four in 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...
, six in the National Professional Soccer League, and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was the head coach of the Stockton Cougars in the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
and the head coach of the US National Arena Soccer Team. He is currently the Head Coach and a Managing Partner for the Anaheim Bolts.
Youth
Lilavois grew up in Buena Park, CaliforniaBuena Park, California
Buena Park is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. As of Census 2010 the population was 80,530. The city is adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is 12 miles northwest of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena Park and the Orange County Area is "Santa...
. He attended La Salle High School
La Salle High School
La Salle High School is the name of several educational institutions affiliated with the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as the Lasallian Brothers, a Roman Catholic religious teaching order founded by French Priest Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle:* Lasallian...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
where he holds the school’s record for goal scoring. He is a member of the La Salle Hall of Fame. Lilavois then attended Cal State Northridge, playing on the men’s soccer team in 1988. That year, Northridge finished runner up to Florida Tech in the NCAA Division II championship game.
Professional
In 1991, Lilavois signed with the 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...
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...
winning the 1991 title with the team. He then had a brief stint with Ayr United in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. In 1994, Lilavois signed with the San Jose Grizzlies
San Jose Grizzlies
San Jose Grizzlies were a professional indoor soccer team based in San Jose, California. The team was founded on November 24, 1993 as a member of the Continental Indoor Soccer League. After playing in the 1994 and 1995 CISL seasons, the Grizzlies folded following the 1995 season. The team played...
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...
. The CISL played a summer indoor season. In 1995, he began the season with the Grizzlies, playing seven games before being traded to the Anaheim Splash
Anaheim Splash
The Anaheim Splash was a U.S. indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League . It was founded in 1992 as the Los Angeles United, but was sold after the season. The new ownership moved the team to Anaheim, California and renamed it the Anaheim Splash...
on September 1, 1995. He would continue to play for Anaheim through the 1997 CISL season. That year was his most productive for the team, netting 44 goals in 27 games as he was named to the CISL All Star team. Following the 1997 season, the CISL collapsed. In the fall of 1995, Lilavois signed with the Cincinnati Silverbacks
Cincinnati Silverbacks
The Cincinnati Silverbacks was an indoor soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. They performed under the leadership of All-Star goalkeeper, Carlos Pena. Other star players included Gino DiFlorio , Franklin McIntosh, and Dennis Brose...
in the National Professional Soccer League which played a winter indoor season. He played only three games for the Silverbacks that season, but scored 31 in 31 games in 1996-1997 and 66 goals in 40 games in 1997-1998. In the summer of 1998, he played for the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the USISL. The Silverbacks had folded during the summer of 1998 so Lilavois signed with the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
for the 1998-1999 season. He was traded to the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
in March 1999. He went on to play another two season in Harrisburg, scoring a total of 119 goals in 81 games. In the spring of 1999, he joined 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:...
in 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:...
. In the summer of 2000, Lilavois returned to outdoor soccer with the Connecticut Wolves
Connecticut Wolves
The Connecticut Wolves were a soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leagues from 1993 to 2002. Based in New Britain, Connecticut, and playing in Veteran's Stadium, the club started in the D-3 Pro League before moving to the A-League in 1997.-History:...
in the USL A-League. Lilavois then moved to the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
for the 2002-2003 Major Indoor Soccer League season. After he played only three games in February and March 2003, he retired. In October 2005, the expansion Stockton Cougars of MISL signed Lilavois as a free agent. He played through the end of the 2006-2007 season, then was forced to retire from playing when he became the head coach. However, he returned on February 23, 2008 when Stockton was hit with several injuries.
National team
In 2000, Lilavois played for the U.S. National FutsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team which took third at the CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
championship. He scored one goal in five games.
Coach
On February 17, 2006, the Cougars elevated Lilavois from player to player-coach. League rules prohibited a coach from playing, so Lilavois was not allowed to be the official coach. When he became the official coach at the end of the season, he was forced to retire from playing, but was re-instated by the league commissioner when the Cougars were hit with several injuries. In addition to the Cougars, Lilavois also coaches the United States National Arena Soccer Team.In 2011, The PASL announced a new team in the legaue, the Anaheim Bolts. Lilavois was named Head Coach and a Managing Partner.