Hayden Knight
Encyclopedia
Hayden Knight is a retired Trinidad-American soccer defender
and current high school
soccer coach. He earned three caps with the United States men's national soccer team
in 1984.
, moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York
. When he was a sophomore, Knight attended high school in Appleton, Wisconsin
as part of a program known as 'A Better Chance'. This program placed inner city youths in rural high schools. He attended Marquette University
where he played on the men’s soccer team. He holds the team’s career scoring record with 52 goals. He also holds the NCAA record for career assists per game with 42 in 44 games. Marquette inducted Knight into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. In college, he also played with the Milwaukee Bavarians
.
. While with the Drillers, he received his first taste of indoor soccer when the Drillers won the 1980-1981 NASL indoor championship.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07E7DC1539F93BA35750C0A967948260 The Chiefs folded after the 1981 season and Knight moved north to the Montreal Manic
for the 1982 season.
In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation, in coordination with the NASL, entered the U.S. national team, known as Team America
, into the NASL as a league franchise. The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Soccer League
. Knight left the Manic and signed with Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10-20 record, the worst in the NASL, USSF withdrew the team from the league. Knight moved to the Golden Bay Earthquakes for the 1984 season, but was traded to the Chicago Sting
with Manny Rojas on July 10, 1984 in exchange for Ricardo Alonso
and Charlie Fajkus
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EFDA1339F933A25754C0A962948260 He remained with the Sting through the 1984-1985 MISL season and won the 1984 NASL championship with them. On May 10, 1985, the Sting released Knight. In September 1985, Knight signed with the Chicago Shoccers
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. He was an AISA All Star and led the Shoccers in scoring despite playing defense. In March 1986, he rejoined the Sting and finished the 1985-1986 MISL season with them. On August 6, 1986, he signed with the Dallas Sidekicks
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL)as a free agent. On July 4, 1987, the team announced that they would not renew his contract and he again became a free agent. He signed with the Milwaukee Wave
of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA) where he played as a forward for the next two seasons. At the end of the 1987-1989 AISA season, Knight retired from playing professionally.
. The three games all came within a week as Knight played first on October 11 in a win over Colombia
, followed by a loss three days later to Guatemala
and another loss three days after that to Mexico
.
in Cedarburg, Wisconsin
hired Knight to coach the girl’s soccer team as well as teach. Since then, Knight has remained at Cedarburg, teaching history and social studies as well as coaching both the girls and boys teams. In 2005, he resigned from the girls team, after beating
prostate cancer
, but resigned later from the boys side in 2008 to take a technical directing job at the Mequon Soccer Club. The CHS won the state championships in 1989, 1991 and 1996.http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=236439 He is also a staff coach at the Mequon Soccer Club. He is looking for his 300th win, then possible retiring from soccer.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and current high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
soccer coach. He earned three caps with the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1984.
Youth
Knight, a native of TrinidadTrinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. When he was a sophomore, Knight attended high school in Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
as part of a program known as 'A Better Chance'. This program placed inner city youths in rural high schools. He attended Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
where he played on the men’s soccer team. He holds the team’s career scoring record with 52 goals. He also holds the NCAA record for career assists per game with 42 in 44 games. Marquette inducted Knight into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. In college, he also played with 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...
.
Professional
In 1980, the Edmonton Drillers drafted Knight. Although he starred in college as a forward, he moved to defense in the pros. He played a single season with the Drillers before moving to the Atlanta ChiefsAtlanta Chiefs
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'...
. While with the Drillers, he received his first taste of indoor soccer when the Drillers won the 1980-1981 NASL indoor championship.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07E7DC1539F93BA35750C0A967948260 The Chiefs folded after the 1981 season and Knight moved north to the Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic were a soccer team based out of Montreal that played in the NASL. They played from 1981 to 1983. Their home field was Olympic Stadium...
for the 1982 season.
In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation, in coordination with the NASL, entered the U.S. national team, known as Team America
Team America (soccer)
Team America was a professional version of the United States men's national soccer team which played as a franchise in the defunct North American Soccer League during the 1983 season...
, into the NASL as a league franchise. The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League and 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...
. Knight left the Manic and signed with Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10-20 record, the worst in the NASL, USSF withdrew the team from the league. Knight moved to the Golden Bay Earthquakes for the 1984 season, but was traded to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
with Manny Rojas on July 10, 1984 in exchange for Ricardo Alonso
Ricardo Alonso
Ricardo Alonso was a soccer player who began as a forward before moving to defender later in his career. Alonso spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, four in Major Indoor Soccer League, at least three in the American Indoor Soccer Association, one in the American Soccer League and...
and Charlie Fajkus
Charlie Fajkus
Charlie Fajkus is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League and five in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned three caps with the U.S. national team between 1982 and 1985.-Youth and college:Fajkus grew up Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb of...
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EFDA1339F933A25754C0A962948260 He remained with the Sting through the 1984-1985 MISL season and won the 1984 NASL championship with them. On May 10, 1985, the Sting released Knight. In September 1985, Knight signed with the Chicago Shoccers
Chicago Shoccers
The Chicago Vultures were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association.After their first season, the club was renamed the Chicago Shoccers.-Former Players:...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. He was an AISA All Star and led the Shoccers in scoring despite playing defense. In March 1986, he rejoined the Sting and finished the 1985-1986 MISL season with them. On August 6, 1986, he signed with the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
of 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...
(MISL)as a free agent. On July 4, 1987, the team announced that they would not renew his contract and he again became a free agent. He signed with the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee 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 American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA) where he played as a forward for the next two seasons. At the end of the 1987-1989 AISA season, Knight retired from playing professionally.
National team
In 1984, Knight earned three caps with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. The three games all came within a week as Knight played first on October 11 in a win over Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
, followed by a loss three days later to Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
and another loss three days after that to Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
.
Coaching
That year Cedarburg High SchoolCedarburg High School
Cedarburg High School is a public, co-educational high school located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, USA. The high school is part of the Cedarburg School District and has an enrollment of 1117 students.-Curriculum:...
in Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Cedarburg is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States with Cedar Creek running through it. The city is bordered by the Village of Grafton to the east and the Town of Cedarburg elsewhere...
hired Knight to coach the girl’s soccer team as well as teach. Since then, Knight has remained at Cedarburg, teaching history and social studies as well as coaching both the girls and boys teams. In 2005, he resigned from the girls team, after beating
Cancer survivors
A cancer survivor is an individual with cancer of any type, current or past, who is still living. About 11 million Americans alive today—one in 30 people–are either currently undergoing treatment for cancer or have done so in the past." Currently nearly 65% of adults diagnosed with cancer in the...
prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
, but resigned later from the boys side in 2008 to take a technical directing job at the Mequon Soccer Club. The CHS won the state championships in 1989, 1991 and 1996.http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=236439 He is also a staff coach at the Mequon Soccer Club. He is looking for his 300th win, then possible retiring from soccer.