Dan Stebbins
Encyclopedia
Dan Stebbins is a retired U.S. soccer forward
who played three seasons in Major League Soccer
and was the 1996 USISL league leading scorer and MVP.
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. He played collegiate soccer at the University of Notre Dame
from 1987 to 1990. During his four seasons with the Fighting Irish, Stebbins scored 11 goals and added 4 assists in 77 games.
of the National Professional Soccer League. He became a regular with the first team during the 1992-1993 season. In November 1993, he unexpectedly left the team a few days before the season opener. In the summer of 1993, Stebbins played for the amateur Milwaukee Bavarians
as it went to the semifinals of the 1993 U.S. Open Cup
. In 1994, he continued to play for the Bavarians, also known as the Bavarian Leinenkugel in honor of their sponsor, as the team went to the finals of the 1994 U.S. Open Cup
.
On November 17, 1994 Stebbins signed with the Milwaukee Rampage
of the USISL. The Rampage then sent him on loan to the Chicago Power
for the 1994-1995 NPSL season. In 1995, Stebbins scored twenty goals for the Rampage. In 1996, he was a first team All Star, led the league in scoring and was the USISL MVP. On February 2, 1997, the Dallas Burn selected Stebbins in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
. On April 8, 1997, thirty-eight minutes into the first game of the season, Stebbins tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The Burn released him in March, but then signed him to a 30 day contract which they continued to renew into June. In June 1997, the Burn sent Stebbins on loan to the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers of the USISL to get him into game fitness. He played one game for the Gamblers, then was released by the Burn a week later. On August 5, 1997, the Milwaukee Rampage
signed him for the remainder of the 1997 season. He scored only two goals in eight regular season games, but added another seven goals in the playoffs as the Rampage won the USL A-League championship. In January 1998, the expansion Miami Fusion
of the Major League Soccer
signed Stebbins. He scored six goals in twenty-four games and was released in November 1998. On March 23, 1999, he signed with the Rampage for a third time. In September 1999, the Rampage loaned Stebbin to the Chicago Fire
for one game.
On February 6, 2000, the Rampage traded Stebbins to the Rochester Rhinos in exchange for the Rhinos first and second round draft picks. Stebbins refused to move and rejoined the Milwaukee Bavarians
instead. In August 2000, after the Bavarians were eliminated from the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
, Stebbins joined the Rhinos. He scored three goals in six regular season games, then scored several playoff goals, including one in the Rhinos 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Thunder
in the championship game. Stebbins returned to the Bavarians for the 2001 season. In 2002, he spent one more professional season with the Rhinos before returning to the Bavarians in 2003.
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 three seasons in 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...
and was the 1996 USISL league leading scorer and MVP.
Youth
Stebbins graduated from Rufus King High SchoolRufus King High School
Rufus King International School--High School Campus, or Rufus King, is a public magnet high school located on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools district. The school has been consecutively ranked the top public high school in the state of Wisconsin by...
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. He played collegiate soccer at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
from 1987 to 1990. During his four seasons with the Fighting Irish, Stebbins scored 11 goals and added 4 assists in 77 games.
Professional
In 1991, Stebbins signed as a developmental player 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 became a regular with the first team during the 1992-1993 season. In November 1993, he unexpectedly left the team a few days before the season opener. In the summer of 1993, Stebbins played for the amateur Milwaukee Bavarians
Milwaukee Bavarians
Milwaukee Bavarians is an American soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1929, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Midwest Division.The team plays its home games in the...
as it went to the semifinals of the 1993 U.S. Open Cup
1993 U.S. Open Cup
The 1993 U.S. Open Cup was the 80th edition of the soccer tournament to crown the national champion of the United States.San Francisco's Club Deportivo Mexico won the Open Cup by defeating Philadelphia's United German-Hungarians 5-0 in the final at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.With coach...
. In 1994, he continued to play for the Bavarians, also known as the Bavarian Leinenkugel in honor of their sponsor, as the team went to the finals of the 1994 U.S. Open Cup
1994 U.S. Open Cup
-Final:...
.
On November 17, 1994 Stebbins signed with the Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
of the USISL. The Rampage then sent him on loan to the Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
for the 1994-1995 NPSL season. In 1995, Stebbins scored twenty goals for the Rampage. In 1996, he was a first team All Star, led the league in scoring and was the USISL MVP. On February 2, 1997, the Dallas Burn selected Stebbins in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 2, 1997.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-External links:*...
. On April 8, 1997, thirty-eight minutes into the first game of the season, Stebbins tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The Burn released him in March, but then signed him to a 30 day contract which they continued to renew into June. In June 1997, the Burn sent Stebbins on loan to the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers of the USISL to get him into game fitness. He played one game for the Gamblers, then was released by the Burn a week later. On August 5, 1997, the Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
signed him for the remainder of the 1997 season. He scored only two goals in eight regular season games, but added another seven goals in the playoffs as the Rampage won the USL A-League championship. In January 1998, the expansion Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
of the 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...
signed Stebbins. He scored six goals in twenty-four games and was released in November 1998. On March 23, 1999, he signed with the Rampage for a third time. In September 1999, the Rampage loaned Stebbin to the Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire (soccer)
Chicago Fire Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview, Illinois. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top soccer league in the United States and Canada...
for one game.
On February 6, 2000, the Rampage traded Stebbins to the Rochester Rhinos in exchange for the Rhinos first and second round draft picks. Stebbins refused to move and rejoined the Milwaukee Bavarians
Milwaukee Bavarians
Milwaukee Bavarians is an American soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1929, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Midwest Division.The team plays its home games in the...
instead. In August 2000, after the Bavarians were eliminated from the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:Four PDL and four USASA teams start.-----Second round:...
, Stebbins joined the Rhinos. He scored three goals in six regular season games, then scored several playoff goals, including one in the Rhinos 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
in the championship game. Stebbins returned to the Bavarians for the 2001 season. In 2002, he spent one more professional season with the Rhinos before returning to the Bavarians in 2003.