Jeff Duback
Encyclopedia
Jeff Duback is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper
who played in the Western Soccer Alliance, American Soccer League
and American Professional Soccer League
. He also earned four caps with the United States men's national soccer team
.
area where he played for the powerhouse San Diego Nomads youth club. After graduating from La Jolla High School, Duback attended Yale University
where he played on the men’s soccer team in 1982. He spent the 1983 season with the U.S. U-20 national team before returning to Yale the next season. He remained with the team through 1986. He holds several Yale records, including season GAA (.31 in 1986) and career GAA (.82) . He also hold the school’s record for season shutouts (11) and career shutouts (25). He was named a first team All American
goalkeeper in 1984 and 1986. He topped this with garnering the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
in 1986.
senior team which competed at that time in the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA). He graduated from Yale in the spring of 1987 and spent that summer with the national team. In the fall of 1987, he broke his toe training with the Kansas City Comets
during the Major Indoor Soccer League preseason. He returned to San Diego where he trained with the San Diego Sockers while recuperating. The Sockers signed him for the 1987-1988 MISL season, but he never saw first team time. In 1988, Duback played with the Boston Bolts
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). However, he lost most of the season due to national team commitments. In 1989, the Bolt decided against bringing him back for a second season and he signed with the San Diego Nomads
. He once again saw only a handful of games with his team as he spent most of the summer with the national team. He returned to the Nomads late in the season as the team won the league title, putting it in the first national championship game since the demise of the North American Soccer League in 1984. Duback started the game against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers which the Nomads lost 3-1. By the spring of 1990, Duback was out of contention for a spot on the national team and he signed with the Boston Bolts
now of the American Professional Soccer League
. Duback played with the Bolts the entire season. Duback retired at the end of the season and went into the sporting goods business. In the spring of 1993, he went on trial with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the APSL. The Rowdies signed him to a short term contract on May 13, 1993 as backup to starter Bill Andracki
and second string keeper Brett Philips. However with Andracki suspended and Phillips injured, Duback started the first game of the season and posted a shutout. This led the Rowdies to extend his contract. However, the team released him on June 2, 1993 when Duback did not agree to the terms of another contract extension. In 1994, he signed with the Charlotte Eagles
of the USISL. He played two seasons with the Eagles. On June 6, 1995, Duback signed with Major League Soccer
as that league began preparations to begin its first season in 1996. However, he was not drafted and retired permanently in the spring of 1996.
in Mexico
. He played all three games in the tournament, gaining a single win and single shutout.
In 1987, he earned his first cap
with the national team
becoming only one of four national team goalkeepers to earn a shutout in their debut game. Previous to this game, David Vanole
had been the keeper of choice through 1986 and 1987. In 1988, the national team began searching for another keeper and Duback was in the mix. However, by 1989, Vanole had staged a resurgence and Tony Meola
was entering the goalkeeping scene, which he would dominate through 1994. This led to Duback earning only three more caps, despite his excellent start with the national team. In his four games, he earned only one victory and two shutouts. Duback was also a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team
which went 0-1-2 at the games.
, during the 2004-2005 season. 2009 Assistant Coach for the Women's Professional Soccer League's (WPSL) Boston Aztec.
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...
who played in the Western Soccer Alliance, 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...
and 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...
. He also earned four 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...
.
Youth
Duback grew up in the San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
area where he played for the powerhouse San Diego Nomads youth club. After graduating from La Jolla High School, Duback attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
where he played on the men’s soccer team in 1982. He spent the 1983 season with the U.S. U-20 national team before returning to Yale the next season. He remained with the team through 1986. He holds several Yale records, including season GAA (.31 in 1986) and career GAA (.82) . He also hold the school’s record for season shutouts (11) and career shutouts (25). He was named a 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:...
goalkeeper in 1984 and 1986. He topped this with garnering 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...
in 1986.
Professional career
In 1986, Duback returned to San Diego to play during the collegiate off season for the Nomads'San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
senior team which competed at that time in the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA). He graduated from Yale in the spring of 1987 and spent that summer with the national team. In the fall of 1987, he broke his toe training with the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
during the Major Indoor Soccer League preseason. He returned to San Diego where he trained with the San Diego Sockers while recuperating. The Sockers signed him for the 1987-1988 MISL season, but he never saw first team time. In 1988, Duback played with the Boston Bolts
Boston Bolts
The Boston Bolts were a short lived U.S. soccer team which came into existence in 1988 as a member of the third American Soccer League . They played in Boston, Massachusetts at Nickerson Field...
of 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...
(ASL). However, he lost most of the season due to national team commitments. In 1989, the Bolt decided against bringing him back for a second season and he signed with the San Diego Nomads
San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
. He once again saw only a handful of games with his team as he spent most of the summer with the national team. He returned to the Nomads late in the season as the team won the league title, putting it in the first national championship game since the demise of the North American Soccer League in 1984. Duback started the game against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers which the Nomads lost 3-1. By the spring of 1990, Duback was out of contention for a spot on the national team and he signed with the Boston Bolts
Boston Bolts
The Boston Bolts were a short lived U.S. soccer team which came into existence in 1988 as a member of the third American Soccer League . They played in Boston, Massachusetts at Nickerson Field...
now of 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...
. Duback played with the Bolts the entire season. Duback retired at the end of the season and went into the sporting goods business. In the spring of 1993, he went on trial with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the APSL. The Rowdies signed him to a short term contract on May 13, 1993 as backup to starter Bill Andracki
Bill Andracki
Bill Andracki is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who had an extensive professional career playing both indoor and outdoor soccer.-Youth:...
and second string keeper Brett Philips. However with Andracki suspended and Phillips injured, Duback started the first game of the season and posted a shutout. This led the Rowdies to extend his contract. However, the team released him on June 2, 1993 when Duback did not agree to the terms of another contract extension. In 1994, he signed with the Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USISL. He played two seasons with the Eagles. On June 6, 1995, Duback signed with 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...
as that league began preparations to begin its first season in 1996. However, he was not drafted and retired permanently in the spring of 1996.
National team
In 1983, Duback was the starting goalkeep for the U.S. U-20 national team as it qualified for the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, the fourth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Mexico from June 2 to June 19, 1983. The tournament took place in seven venues — Guadalajara, Irapuato, León, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puebla and Toluca — where a total of 32 matches were...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He played all three games in the tournament, gaining a single win and single shutout.
In 1987, he earned his first cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
with the 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...
becoming only one of four national team goalkeepers to earn a shutout in their debut game. Previous to this game, David Vanole
David Vanole
David Charles Vanole was an American soccer goalkeeper and coach. He spent his professional career in the Western Soccer Alliance and its successor league, the American Professional Soccer League. He also earned 14 caps with the U.S...
had been the keeper of choice through 1986 and 1987. In 1988, the national team began searching for another keeper and Duback was in the mix. However, by 1989, Vanole had staged a resurgence and Tony Meola
Tony Meola
Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola is an American former soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States national team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and from 1996 to 2006 played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors...
was entering the goalkeeping scene, which he would dominate through 1994. This led to Duback earning only three more caps, despite his excellent start with the national team. In his four games, he earned only one victory and two shutouts. Duback was also a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team
United States at the 1988 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. 527 competitors, 332 men and 195 women, took part in 230 events in 27 sports.- Gold:* Jay Barrs — Archery, Men's Individual Competition...
which went 0-1-2 at the games.
Coaching
He currently runs goalkeeper camps and markets a goalkeeper video. He served as a volunteer coach at his children's school, Woodlawn of Davidson, North CarolinaDavidson, North Carolina
Davidson is a town in Mecklenburg County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 7,139 at the 2000 census. It is home to Davidson College...
, during the 2004-2005 season. 2009 Assistant Coach for the Women's Professional Soccer League's (WPSL) Boston Aztec.