Kia Zolgharnain
Encyclopedia
Kia Zolgharnain was an Iranian-U.S. soccer forward
who led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during the 1986-1987 season. He currently coaches youth soccer in Cleveland. During his playing days, he was known by his first name alone.
. They settled in Scottsdale, Arizona
where Zolgharnain attended Coronado High School. He would become a U.S. citizen in 1994.
(MISL). In 1984, he moved to the expansion Canton Invaders
of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). The Invaders won the 1985 and 1986 AISA championships as Zolgharnain was selected as a first team All Star both seasons. In 1995 and 1996, Kia spent two summer indoor seasons with the Pittsburgh Stingers
in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. In 1996, Kia signed with the Cleveland Crunch
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). While he played thirty-seven games in the 1996-1997 season, his playing time rapidly dropped over the next three seasons. In 1997-1998, he played only fifteen games. That fell to one in 1998-1999 and three at the beginning of the 1999-2000 season. The Crunch waived him on December 3, 1999. Zolgharnain finished his career ranked ninth on the AISA/NPSL goals list. He was also a two time first team All Star.
team in 1995. That year, the U.S. finished fourth in the Futsal Mundialito
.
. In 2001, he spent a season as an assistant coach at John Carroll University
. He then joined the Cleveland Soccer Academy as the Director of Coaching, a position he held from 2001 to 2005. In 2003, he became a Super Y-League
coach with the Cleveland Crunch Juniors. The team won the 2003 U-19 Super Y National Championship. In November 2005, he left Cleveland and moved to Georgia where he became the Director of Coaching for the Peachtree City Youth Soccer Association. In 2007, he returned to Cleveland as the Director of Coaching for CASA (Cleveland Alliance Soccer Association) U16 & U18 USSF developmental Academy.
.
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 led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during the 1986-1987 season. He currently coaches youth soccer in Cleveland. During his playing days, he was known by his first name alone.
Youth and high school
Although born in Iran, Zolgharnain’s family fled the country after the 1978 Iranian RevolutionIranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
. They settled in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
where Zolgharnain attended Coronado High School. He would become a U.S. citizen in 1994.
Professional
In 1983, Kia chose to turn professional coming out of high school. He signed with the Phoenix Pride of Major Indoor Soccer LeagueMajor 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). In 1984, he moved to the expansion Canton Invaders
Canton 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). The Invaders won the 1985 and 1986 AISA championships as Zolgharnain was selected as a first team All Star both seasons. In 1995 and 1996, Kia spent two summer indoor seasons with the Pittsburgh Stingers
Pittsburgh Stingers
Pittsburgh Stingers were a professional indoor soccer team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1994–1995. The two season that the Stingers played they avg. attendance was 3,091 per game....
in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. In 1996, Kia signed with the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). While he played thirty-seven games in the 1996-1997 season, his playing time rapidly dropped over the next three seasons. In 1997-1998, he played only fifteen games. That fell to one in 1998-1999 and three at the beginning of the 1999-2000 season. The Crunch waived him on December 3, 1999. Zolgharnain finished his career ranked ninth on the AISA/NPSL goals list. He was also a two time first team All Star.
Futsal
Zolgharnain earned five caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. FutsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team in 1995. That year, the U.S. finished fourth in the Futsal Mundialito
Futsal Mundialito
The Futsal Mundialito is a futsal competition of the same kind of the FIFA Futsal World Cup but with invited nations. It was first held in 1994.-Results:...
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Coaching
Zolgharnain has been coaching at the youth soccer level since 1984. He began as a coach in the Ohio Olympic Developmental Program. He is still involved in the ODP in Georgia. After retiring from playing, he became an assistant coach with the Cleveland CrunchCleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
. In 2001, he spent a season as an assistant coach at John Carroll University
John Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
. He then joined the Cleveland Soccer Academy as the Director of Coaching, a position he held from 2001 to 2005. In 2003, he became a Super Y-League
Super Y-League
The Super Y-League is the highest form of American and Canadian youth soccer. It consists of over 100 teams, many of which are operated by clubs from MLS to PDL.- Age groups :The Super Y-League has these following age groups:*U-12*U-13*U-14*U-15...
coach with the Cleveland Crunch Juniors. The team won the 2003 U-19 Super Y National Championship. In November 2005, he left Cleveland and moved to Georgia where he became the Director of Coaching for the Peachtree City Youth Soccer Association. In 2007, he returned to Cleveland as the Director of Coaching for CASA (Cleveland Alliance Soccer Association) U16 & U18 USSF developmental Academy.
Business
In addition to playing and coaching soccer, Zolgharnain has owned several businesses including a chain of sporting goods stores in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
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