Milwaukee Wave
Encyclopedia
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 America
and a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
The team plays their games at the U.S. Cellular Arena
. The team colors are blue and white. Their head coach is Keith Tozer
.
). Milwaukee also hosted the 2003 and 2006 MISL II All-Star Games.
Keith Tozer has coached them for 16 seasons. He is assisted by Mark Litton and Guiliano Oliverio.
The Wave played in the first season of the XSL
in the 2008 - 2009 season, but moved to the new Major Indoor Soccer League for the 2009-2010 season.
Brian Loftin
Jimmy Banks
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...
team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
The team plays their games at the U.S. Cellular Arena
U.S. Cellular Arena
U.S. Cellular Arena is an indoor arena, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
. The team colors are blue and white. Their head coach is Keith Tozer
Keith Tozer
Keith Tozer is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He currently coaches the Milwaukee Wave of Major Indoor Soccer League.-College:...
.
History
The team was founded on August 3, 1984 as a member of the American Indoor Soccer Association and has played in every season and incarnation of that league (see MISLMajor Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
). Milwaukee also hosted the 2003 and 2006 MISL II All-Star Games.
Keith Tozer has coached them for 16 seasons. He is assisted by Mark Litton and Guiliano Oliverio.
The Wave played in the first season of the XSL
Xtreme Soccer League
The Xtreme Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that began play in December 2008. Four teams from the former Major Indoor Soccer League participated in the first XSL season--- the Chicago Storm, Detroit Ignition, Milwaukee Wave, and New Jersey Ironmen...
in the 2008 - 2009 season, but moved to the new Major Indoor Soccer League for the 2009-2010 season.
Current roster
As of November 13, 2011Wave Hall of Fame Inductees
| Name | Inducted | Years Played |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Knezic Peter Knezic Peter Knezic is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer League... |
2009 | 1984-1990 |
| Art Kramer | 2009 | |
| Steve Morris | 2009 | 1992-2002 |
| Victor Nogueira Victor Nogueira Victor Nogueira is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Nogueira spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, but gained his greatest recognition in over twenty seasons in three indoor leagues, the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and the second Major... |
2009 | 1992-2003 |
| Todd Dusosky Todd Dusosky Todd Dusosky is a retired American soccer forward who spent most of his career with indoor teams. He also played a handful of seasons in the USL A-League.-Soccer:... |
2009 | 1996-2007 |
| Michael King | 2009 | 1993-2008 |
| Louise Au | 2010 | Fan |
| Tony Pierce | 2010 | |
| Pat White | 2011 | |
| Lee Rogers | 2011 | |
| Greg Howes Greg Howes Greg Howes is an American soccer player, currently player-coach for Tacoma Tide in the USL Premier Development League.-Career:... |
2011 | 2000-2008, 2011- |
| Tom Krueger | 2011 | Fan |
Retired numbers
- 5-
Peter KnezicPeter KnezicPeter Knezic is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer League... - 11- Steve Morris
- 27-Victor NogueiraVictor NogueiraVictor Nogueira is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Nogueira spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, but gained his greatest recognition in over twenty seasons in three indoor leagues, the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and the second Major...
- 13-
Michael King
Other notable former players
Tony McPeakTony McPeak (footballer)
Tony McPeak is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a striker.-Career:When he was seventeen, McPeak joined Chelsea F.C. as a youth player. After sixth months, he returned to Glasgow where he graduated from school. He worked for an insurance company for over two years, playing...
Brian Loftin
Brian Loftin
Brian Loftin is a retired American soccer forward and was the commissioner of the Xtreme Soccer Leaguewhich soon folded. He played one season in Major League Soccer with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, as well as several seasons in the USISL...
Jimmy Banks
Jimmy Banks
For the English footballer see Jimmy Banks James "Jimmy" Banks is a retired U.S. soccer defender. After a standout career at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Banks spent six seasons playing indoor soccer with the Milwaukee Wave...
Year-by-year
| Year | League | Logo | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Attendance Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-85 | AISA | 6th AISA, 13-27 | Failed to qualify | 2,114 | |
| 1985-86 | AISA | 6th AISA, 11-29 | Failed to qualify | 1,802 | |
| 1986-87 | AISA | 4th North, 12-30 | Failed to qualify | 2,316 | |
| 1987-88 | AISA | 3rd AISA, 11-13 | 3rd place, 6-6 | 3,066 | |
| 1988-89 | AISA | 2nd AISA, 24-16 | Lost Semifinal | 6,442 | |
| 1989-90 | AISA | 2nd National, 21-19 | Lost Semifinal | 7,147 | |
| 1990-91 | NPSL II | 2nd National, 23-17 | Lost First Round | 6,526 | |
| 1991-92 | NPSL II | 4th National, 18-22 | Failed to qualify | 7,629 | |
| 1992-93 | NPSL II | 5th National, 17-23 | Failed to qualify | 7,759 | |
| 1993-94 | NPSL II | 4th National, 20-20 | Lost First Round | 7,326 | |
| 1994-95 | NPSL II | 3rd National, 23-17 | Lost First Round | 7,108 | |
| 1995-96 | NPSL II | 2nd National, 30-10 | Lost Division Semifinal | 7,363 | |
| 1996-97 | NPSL II | 2nd Midwest, 26-14 | Lost Conference Quarterfinal | 7,975 | |
| 1997-98 | NPSL II | 1st Central, 28-12 | Won Championship | 7,903 | |
| 1998-99 | NPSL II | 2nd Central, 25-15 | Lost Conference Semifinal | 8,453 | |
| 1999-00 | NPSL II | 1st North, 31-13 | Won Championship | 8,002 | |
| 2000-01 | NPSL II | 1st National, 24-16 | Won Championship | 8,310 | |
| 2001-02 | MISL II | 1st MISL, 34-10 | Lost Championship | 6,665 | |
| 2002-03 | MISL II | 1st Western, 28-9 | Lost Championship | 7,096 | |
| 2003-04 | MISL II | 1st Central, 26-9 | Lost Championship | 6,012 | |
| 2004-05 | MISL II | 1st MISL, 24-15 | Won Championship | 3,675 | |
| 2005-06 | MISL II | 3rd MISL, 17-13 | Lost Semifinal | 4,352 | |
| 2006-07 | MISL II | 4th MISL, 16-14 | Lost Semifinal | 4,618 | |
| 2007-08 | MISL II | 2nd MISL, 22-8 | Lost Semifinal | 4,367 | |
| 2008-09 | XSL | 3rd XSL, 10-10 | No Playoffs | 4,247 | |
| 2009-10 | MISL III | 1st MISL, 14-6 | Lost Championship | 3,934 | |
| 2010-11 | MISL III | 2nd MISL, 15-5 | Won Championship | 4,531 | |
| Total | 563-412 Win % = .577 |
? Win % = ? |
5,876 | ||
Head coaches
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1984–1985, 1985–1986 | Dave Johnson |
| 1985–1986 | Mike Custer |
| 1986–1987 | Mike Custer |
| 1986–1990 | John Dolinsky John Dolinsky John Dolinsky is a retired German-American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He also coached in the American Indoor Soccer Association where he was the 1989 Coach of the... |
| 1990–1992 | Johan Aarino |
| 1992-current | Keith Tozer Keith Tozer Keith Tozer is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He currently coaches the Milwaukee Wave of Major Indoor Soccer League.-College:... * |
- (Keith Tozer missed parts of the 1997-98 & 1999-00 season coaching the US FutsalFutsalFutsal 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. Both times, Art Kramer filled in).
Owners
Charles Krause (2002–09) James Lindenberg (2009–present)Arenas
- Milwaukee Auditorium 1984-1987
- Bradley CenterBradley CenterThe Bradley Center is an indoor arena, located on the northwest corner of North 4th and West State Streets, in Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
1987-2003 - U.S. Cellular ArenaU.S. Cellular ArenaU.S. Cellular Arena is an indoor arena, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
2003–present
Reserves
The Milwaukee Wave United is the official reserve team for the Milwaukee Wave. The Wave United is involved in local premier leagues around the area of Milwaukee, and call the U.S. Cellular their home as well. While playing their home games at the "Cell" they take the field against the Major division clubs of Wisconsin. The Wave United's uniform colors are Black and Red with White trim. The Wave United is coached by Wave assistant coach Mark Litton.See also
- Milwaukee Wave UnitedMilwaukee Wave UnitedThe Milwaukee Wave United was an American professional soccer team, which last played in the A-League, the American second division.The Wave United was formed and joined the A-League after the Milwaukee Rampage folded in 2002...
(former sister outdoor A-LeagueA-League (1995–2004)The A-League was a professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. The A-League emerged out of the restructured American Professional Soccer League in 1995 and operated until 2004, after which it was re-branded the USL First Division...
squad in the early 2000s)