Bob Rohrbach
Encyclopedia
Bob Rohrbach is a retired U.S. professional soccer forward
who spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League
, one in the Major Indoor Soccer League
and one in the American Soccer League
.
After an excellent basketball player his senior season in high school, Rohrbach attempted to gain an athletic scholarship. When no schools expressed an interest, he decided to attend the University of Dayton
and walk on with the basketball team. During pre-season practices, he decided to also try out with the school's soccer team. He played on the men's soccer team from 1973 to 1977 scoring 69 goals career goals. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1993. He turned professional in 1977 with the New York Cosmos
of the North American Soccer League
, but saw no first team time. In 1978, he moved to the Colorado Caribous
where he was a regular starter. He went to the Detroit Express
in 1979. In 1979, he began the Major Indoor Soccer League
season with the Pittsburgh Spirit
but finished it with the Hartford Hellions
. In April 1980, he was playing for the Columbus Magic
whene he collided heads with another player. The collision put him into a coma for four days and ended his soccer career.
In the early 1990s, he co-owned an oil field equipment company, R&R Procurement.
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 spent three 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:...
, one 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...
and one in 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...
.
After an excellent basketball player his senior season in high school, Rohrbach attempted to gain an athletic scholarship. When no schools expressed an interest, he decided to attend the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
and walk on with the basketball team. During pre-season practices, he decided to also try out with the school's soccer team. He played on the men's soccer team from 1973 to 1977 scoring 69 goals career goals. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1993. He turned professional in 1977 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...
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:...
, but saw no first team time. In 1978, he moved to the Colorado Caribous
Colorado Caribous
The Colorado Caribous was a professional soccer team based in Denver, Colorado, that played in the North American Soccer League...
where he was a regular starter. He went to the Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
in 1979. In 1979, he began 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...
season with the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
but finished it with the Hartford Hellions
Hartford Hellions
The Hartford Hellions were a soccer team based out of Hartford, Connecticut that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1979 to 1981. The Hellions played their first season in the New Haven Coliseum before moving to the remodelled Hartford Civic Center.In May 1981, Athletes in...
. In April 1980, he was playing for the Columbus Magic
Columbus Magic
The Columbus Magic was an American soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that was a member of the American Soccer League. They played their home games in Franklin County Stadium that they shared with Minor League baseball's Columbus Clippers...
whene he collided heads with another player. The collision put him into a coma for four days and ended his soccer career.
In the early 1990s, he co-owned an oil field equipment company, R&R Procurement.