Randy Garber
Encyclopedia
Randy Garber is a former U.S. soccer midfielder
who played four seasons in the North American Soccer League
and two seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team
and currently coaches youth soccer in Abington, Pennsylvania
.
, graduating in 1971. He was inducted into the Abington Hall of Fame in 1998. After graduating High School, he attended Mercer County Community College
where he was an All American both years. He then attended Penn State University where he played on the men’s soccer team in 1973 and 1974. He was recruited by coach Herb Schmidt to play soccer at PSU. He was named a 1974 honorable mention (third team) All American.
. During one of his games, he played head to head against Pele and actually traded jerseys with him. He was traded in the middle of the 1976 season to the Los Angeles Aztecs
. At the end of the season, the Aztecs sold Garber’s contract to the Washington Diplomats
. During the 1978-1979 off season, the Dips played a series of exhibition indoor games in which Garber was the team’s second leading scorer. The Dips released him in January 1979. When released by the Dips, Garber joined the Cleveland Force
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). Halfway through the season he injured his knee and was in rehab the rest of the season. He was later traded to the Detroit Lightning
. The following season he played for the Philadelphia Fever
, then retired.
in a 4-0 loss to Poland
on June 24, 1975. He came off for Tim Logush
in the 40th minute.
. Since retiring from playing, he has spent most of his career coaching youth in Roslyn, Pennsylvania
where he was the 1996 NSCAA youth soccer coach of the year. and the 1997 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association Coach of the Year. He also coaches the Abington Senior High School
boys soccer team, where he has been coaching fot the past fifteen years. Recently after this past fall 2007 soccer season he was awarded the High School Coach of the Year by the Southeast Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association. Also, in the 2007 season his team reached the state playoffs.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played four seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and two seasons in 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...
. He 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...
and currently coaches youth soccer in Abington, Pennsylvania
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
.
High school and college
Garber attended Abington Senior High SchoolAbington Senior High School
Abington Senior High School is a three-year co-educational high school in Abington, Pennsylvania. The school was a two-year high school known as Abington South Campus until June 1983. In September 1984, Abington South Campus became a three-year high school and eventually changed its name to...
, graduating in 1971. He was inducted into the Abington Hall of Fame in 1998. After graduating High School, he attended Mercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Mercer County, New Jersey. The school's current president is Dr. Patricia C. Donohue...
where he was an All American both years. He then attended Penn State University where he played on the men’s soccer team in 1973 and 1974. He was recruited by coach Herb Schmidt to play soccer at PSU. He was named a 1974 honorable mention (third team) All American.
Professional
In 1975, Garber signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. During one of his games, he played head to head against Pele and actually traded jerseys with him. He was traded in the middle of the 1976 season to the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
. At the end of the season, the Aztecs sold Garber’s contract to the Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
. During the 1978-1979 off season, the Dips played a series of exhibition indoor games in which Garber was the team’s second leading scorer. The Dips released him in January 1979. When released by the Dips, Garber joined the Cleveland Force
Cleveland 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 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). Halfway through the season he injured his knee and was in rehab the rest of the season. He was later traded to the Detroit Lightning
Detroit Lightning
The Detroit Lightning was a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise which existed for only one season, 1979-1980. The Lightning finished that season at 15-17...
. The following season he played for the Philadelphia Fever
Philadelphia Fever
.The Philadelphia Fever were an indoor soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1982. Their home arena was the Spectrum)...
, then retired.
National team
Garber earned his single cap with the U.S. national teamUnited 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 a 4-0 loss to Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
on June 24, 1975. He came off for Tim Logush
Tim Logush
Tim Logush who is a retired U.S. soccer forward. He spent one season in the North American Soccer League, five in the American Soccer League and earned one cap with the U.S. national team....
in the 40th minute.
Coach
Garber has coached extensively at the youth level, but he gained his start at his alma mater when he was an assistant to Penn State head coach Walter BahrWalter Bahr
Walter Alfred Bahr is a retired American soccer player, considered one of the greatest ever in his country. He was the long-time captain of the U.S. national team and played in the 1950 FIFA World Cup when the U.S...
. Since retiring from playing, he has spent most of his career coaching youth in Roslyn, Pennsylvania
Roslyn, Pennsylvania
Roslyn is an unincorporated community in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally called Hillside, the name Roslyn came from rose gardens that once grew there....
where he was the 1996 NSCAA youth soccer coach of the year. and the 1997 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association Coach of the Year. He also coaches the Abington Senior High School
Abington Senior High School
Abington Senior High School is a three-year co-educational high school in Abington, Pennsylvania. The school was a two-year high school known as Abington South Campus until June 1983. In September 1984, Abington South Campus became a three-year high school and eventually changed its name to...
boys soccer team, where he has been coaching fot the past fifteen years. Recently after this past fall 2007 soccer season he was awarded the High School Coach of the Year by the Southeast Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association. Also, in the 2007 season his team reached the state playoffs.