Jamie Swanner
Encyclopedia
James "Jamie" Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper
and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team
in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer
.
where he played as a goalkeeper
on the men's soccer team. In 1983, his senior season, he earned first team All American
honors and was named the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
. He also lettered in baseball at Clemson in 1983.
as it prepared for the 1984 Summer Olympics
. Swanner earned his only cap with the U.S. national team
when he came on for Winston DuBose
in a December 2 tie with Ecuador
.
of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA) drafted him in the first round. Swanner immediately became a prominent indoor goalkeeper, winning Rookie of the Year for the 1985-1986 season. Swanner would be named the AISA Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1986-1987, 1988–1989, 1989–1990, 1990–1991 and 1991-1992 seasons. He was also named to the All AISA team in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992. He was also the league MVP for 1989–1990 and 1991-1992. While playing with the Invaders, the AISA was renamed as the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1990. During his seven seasons with the Invaders, the team won four championships.
Despite Swanner’s amazing success with the Invaders, he left the team at the end of the 1991-1992 season to join the Buffalo Blizzard
of the NPSL. Swanner failed to achieve the same level of success with the Blizzard as he had with the Invaders. However, he remained with the Blizzard for only two seasons before moving to the St. Louis Ambush
in 1994 for the next six seasons. The move to St. Louis saw a resurgence for Swanner as he was named All NPSL in 1995 and was the NPSL Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1994-1995 season. Swanner won yet another championship as the Ambush swept the Harrisburg Heat
four games to none in the NPSL championship series. In 1999, Swanner replaced Daryl Doran
as the head coach of the Ambush. While he had not intended to continue playing, he was forced into that role when the team’s goalkeeper was injured. The Ambush folded at the end of the 1999-2000 season and Swanner moved to the Kansas City Attack
to play as a goalkeeper, but saw little playing time and retired at the end of the season. When Swanner finished his time in professional soccer, he topped the AISA/NPSL career wins list with 294.
In November 2008, Swanner came out of retirement when he installed himself as a goalkeeper on the St. Louis Illusion
of the Professional Arena Soccer League
. Swanner is the owner of the Illusion.
Swanner was the co-owner of The Game, an indoor soccer arena in Glen Carbon, Illinois
. Swanner owns the Professional Arena Soccer League
St. Louis Illusion
who played their games at The Game Arena in Glen Carbon, Illinois.
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...
and active soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national 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. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
.
High school and college
Swanner attended Southwest High School in St. Louis. After graduating from high school, Swanner attended Clemson UniversityClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
where he played as a goalkeeper
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...
on the men's soccer team. In 1983, his senior season, he earned first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
honors and was named the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
The ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year was an annual award created by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America to recognize the best U.S. college soccer goalkeeper. The ISAA began naming an annual men's Goalkeeper of the Year in 1983...
. He also lettered in baseball at Clemson in 1983.
National and Olympic teams
After finishing his collegiate career, Swanner joined the U.S. Olympic soccer teamUnited States at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the nineteenth time that Team USA participated, having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
as it prepared for the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
. Swanner earned his only cap with the U.S. national 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...
when he came on for Winston DuBose
Winston DuBose
Winston DuBose is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who spent eight seasons in the North American Soccer League, four in the American Professional Soccer League and one in the American Indoor Soccer Association...
in a December 2 tie with Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
.
Professional
When Swanner expressed his intentions to enter the pros, the Canton InvadersCanton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA) drafted him in the first round. Swanner immediately became a prominent indoor goalkeeper, winning Rookie of the Year for the 1985-1986 season. Swanner would be named the AISA Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1986-1987, 1988–1989, 1989–1990, 1990–1991 and 1991-1992 seasons. He was also named to the All AISA team in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992. He was also the league MVP for 1989–1990 and 1991-1992. While playing with the Invaders, the AISA was renamed as the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1990. During his seven seasons with the Invaders, the team won four championships.
Despite Swanner’s amazing success with the Invaders, he left the team at the end of the 1991-1992 season to join 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...
of the NPSL. Swanner failed to achieve the same level of success with the Blizzard as he had with the Invaders. However, he remained with the Blizzard for only two seasons before moving to the St. Louis Ambush
St. Louis Ambush
The St. Louis Ambush was a professional indoor soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played one season at the Tulsas Pavilion Expo Square. Vernon Riggs was the General Manager. Keith Dial was the Managing General Partner. Former Tulsa Roughneck...
in 1994 for the next six seasons. The move to St. Louis saw a resurgence for Swanner as he was named All NPSL in 1995 and was the NPSL Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1994-1995 season. Swanner won yet another championship as the Ambush swept 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...
four games to none in the NPSL championship series. In 1999, Swanner replaced Daryl Doran
Daryl Doran
Daryl Doran is a U.S. indoor soccer player. His 827 games are the most of any player in American professional indoor soccer history. Doran currently plays for the St...
as the head coach of the Ambush. While he had not intended to continue playing, he was forced into that role when the team’s goalkeeper was injured. The Ambush folded at the end of the 1999-2000 season and Swanner moved to the Kansas City Attack
Kansas City Attack
The Kansas City Attack, previously the Atlanta Attack and later known as the Kansas City Comets, were an indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. In its various incarnations the franchise played in the National Professional Soccer League from 1989–2001 and the...
to play as a goalkeeper, but saw little playing time and retired at the end of the season. When Swanner finished his time in professional soccer, he topped the AISA/NPSL career wins list with 294.
In November 2008, Swanner came out of retirement when he installed himself as a goalkeeper on the St. Louis Illusion
St. Louis Illusion
The St. Louis Illusion are an American Arena soccer team, founded in 2008.The team is a charter member of the Professional Arena Soccer League , the first division of arena soccer in North America.-Arena:...
of the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
. Swanner is the owner of the Illusion.
Coaching
While Swanner had spent a year as a professional coach with the Ambush in the 1999-2000 season, that was not his first coaching experience. In 1997, he became an assistant coach with both the Duchesne High School and Lewis and Clark Community College teams.Swanner was the co-owner of The Game, an indoor soccer arena in Glen Carbon, Illinois
Glen Carbon, Illinois
Glen Carbon is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States, 23 km northeast of St. Louis. The population was 12,934 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. Swanner owns the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
St. Louis Illusion
St. Louis Illusion
The St. Louis Illusion are an American Arena soccer team, founded in 2008.The team is a charter member of the Professional Arena Soccer League , the first division of arena soccer in North America.-Arena:...
who played their games at The Game Arena in Glen Carbon, Illinois.