John Stollmeyer
Encyclopedia
John Michael Stollmeyer (born October 25, 1962 in Pittsburgh) is a retired United States soccer player. He played two seasons in Major Indoor Soccer League
and one each in both the American Soccer League
and the American Professional Soccer League
. He also earned thirty-one cap
s with the U.S. national team
from 1986 to 1990 and was a member of the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
.
, attended Thomas Jefferson High School
in Annandale, Virginia
. In 1981, he was the National Amateur Soccer Athlete of the Year. After high school he attended Indiana University Bloomington
from 1982 to 1986. While at Indiana, he was a member of the school's NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
teams of 1982 and 1983, as well as the 1984 second-place team. He was selected as a second team All American in 1982 and 1985 and a third team All American in 1984. In 1982, he was the NCAA Defender of the Year. In 1999, he was elected to the Indiana University Hall of Fame.
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He was the MISL rookie of the year in 1986-1987. Stollmeyer's second season with the team, 1987-1988, was his last as the team folded at the end of the season.
of the outdoor Western Soccer League
. Stollmeyer played with the Condors for its two seasons of existence: 1989 and 1990. Once again, Stollmeyer was left without a team when the Condors folded at the end of the 1990 season. He was briefly associated with the Washington Stars
, but that team also folded in 1990.
in Australia.
During his time with the Force, Stollmeyer was a member of the 1987 Pan American Games
U.S. soccer team, which was held in Indianapolis, Indiana
. The U.S. defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-0, tied El Salvador 0-0, but lost to Argentina 0-2. The 1-1-1 record gave the U.S. 2nd place in its pool, but not enough to advance out of group play. That year he was also a member of the U.S. 1987 Summer Universiade
soccer team in Zagreb
, Croatia.
The following year Stollmeyer played for the U.S. team at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, South Korea. That team tied Argentina and South Korea, then lost to the Soviet Union. Once again, Stollmeyer's team failed to exit group play.
Despite the professional disappointments, Stollmeyer still made the U.S. team for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
in Italy. However, in this last major international tournament of his career, Stollmeyer's team again failed to exit group play, losing to both Italy and Czechoslovakia and earning a tie with Austria.
.
.
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 each in both 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...
and 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...
. He also earned thirty-one 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...
s 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...
from 1986 to 1990 and was a member of the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
.
High school and college
Stollmeyer, a native of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, attended Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School may refer to high schools in the United States:*Thomas Jefferson High School *Bloomington Jefferson High School*Thomas Jefferson High School...
in Annandale, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. In 1981, he was the National Amateur Soccer Athlete of the Year. After high school he attended Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
from 1982 to 1986. While at Indiana, he was a member of the school's NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
teams of 1982 and 1983, as well as the 1984 second-place team. He was selected as a second team All American in 1982 and 1985 and a third team All American in 1984. In 1982, he was the NCAA Defender of the Year. In 1999, he was elected to the Indiana University Hall of Fame.
U.S. Olympic Sports Festival
In the early 1980s, the U.S. Olympic organization initiated the Olympic Sports Festival as a means of identifying and training prospective Olympians. In soccer, the organization divided prominent amateur players into four teams, north, south, east and west. Stollmeyer was a member of the East Regional Team for the 1982, 1983 and 1985 Olympic Sports Festivals.Cleveland Force
In 1985, Stollmeyer was drafted by the Cleveland ForceCleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
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). He was the MISL rookie of the year in 1986-1987. Stollmeyer's second season with the team, 1987-1988, was his last as the team folded at the end of the season.
WSL/APSL
When the Cleveland Force closed in 1988, he moved to the Arizona CondorsArizona Condors
The Arizona Condors was an American soccer team founded in 1989 as a member of the Western Soccer League. The team folded following the 1990 season.-History:In January 1989, the amateur Arizona Condors entered the Western Soccer League as an expansion team...
of the outdoor Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
. Stollmeyer played with the Condors for its two seasons of existence: 1989 and 1990. Once again, Stollmeyer was left without a team when the Condors folded at the end of the 1990 season. He was briefly associated with the Washington Stars
Washington Stars
The Washington Stars were an American soccer team established in 1987 as F.C. Washington. The team entered the American Soccer League in 1988 under the name Washington Stars and merged with the Maryland Bays in 1990.-History:...
, but that team also folded in 1990.
National teams
While in high school, he played on the U.S. team at the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship1981 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship, the third edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Australia from 3 to 18 October 1981. The tournament took place in six venues—where a total of 32 matches were played...
in Australia.
During his time with the Force, Stollmeyer was a member of the 1987 Pan American Games
1987 Pan American Games
The 1987 Pan American Games, officially known as the X Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, from 7 August to 23 August 1987. Over 4,300 athletes from 38 countries in the Americas competed in 30 sports earning...
U.S. soccer team, which was held in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. The U.S. defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-0, tied El Salvador 0-0, but lost to Argentina 0-2. The 1-1-1 record gave the U.S. 2nd place in its pool, but not enough to advance out of group play. That year he was also a member of the U.S. 1987 Summer Universiade
1987 Summer Universiade
The 1987 Summer Universiade, also known as the XIV Summer Universiade, took place in Zagreb, Croatia . It involved participants from 111 countries and over 6,000 individual sportspersons and members of teams.-Medal table:...
soccer team in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia.
The following year Stollmeyer played for the U.S. team at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea. That team tied Argentina and South Korea, then lost to the Soviet Union. Once again, Stollmeyer's team failed to exit group play.
Despite the professional disappointments, Stollmeyer still made the U.S. team for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
in Italy. However, in this last major international tournament of his career, Stollmeyer's team again failed to exit group play, losing to both Italy and Czechoslovakia and earning a tie with Austria.
Coaching
After he retired from playing professionally, Stollmeyer spent time as an assistant coach with Notre DameNotre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
.
Post-soccer career
Stollmeyer is a Vice President of investments for Raymond James in IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
.