Rich Cullen
Encyclopedia
Richard Patrick "Rich" Cullen is a retired American soccer goalkeeper.
In 1996, Cullen, the son of an Air Force pilot, graduated from Mead Senior High School
. He attended the United States Air Force Academy
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1996 to 1999. He holds the Falcons' records for career saves and career shutouts. On February 6, 2000, the Colorado Rapids
selected Cullen in the sixth round (sixty-seventh overall) of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
. He remained at the Academy as an assistant coach while playing backup with the Rapids and on loan to the Colorado Springs Ascent
. In 2001, Cullen joined the Seattle Sounders of the USL A-League. He spent most of the 2001 and 2002 seasons as backup before claiming a starting spot in 2003 when Preston Burpo
broke his jaw in an on-field collision with Danny Jackson. Cullen backstopped the Sounders to the A-League semifinals and was named Second Team All League. However, the Sounders released him at the end of the season. During his years with the Sounders, Cullen was stationed at McChord Air Force Base as an Air Force Reservist. In 2004, the Air Force transferred Cullen back to the Academy where he spent two seasons as an assistant with the Falcons' soccer team.
In 1996, Cullen, the son of an Air Force pilot, graduated from Mead Senior High School
Mead Senior High School
Mead Senior High School is a public secondary school in Spokane, Washington. MHS is part of the Mead School District#354. Mead Senior High has an enrollment of around 1,650 students. Mead was the recent recipient of the U.S...
. He attended the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1996 to 1999. He holds the Falcons' records for career saves and career shutouts. On February 6, 2000, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
selected Cullen in the sixth round (sixty-seventh overall) of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
2000 MLS SuperDraft
The 2000 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:...
. He remained at the Academy as an assistant coach while playing backup with the Rapids and on loan to the Colorado Springs Ascent
Colorado Springs Ascent
Colorado Springs Ascent were an American soccer team who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in 2000 and 2001, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.-Year-by-year:...
. In 2001, Cullen joined the Seattle Sounders of the USL A-League. He spent most of the 2001 and 2002 seasons as backup before claiming a starting spot in 2003 when Preston Burpo
Preston Burpo
Preston Burpo is a retired American soccer player who is now goalkeeper coach for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:...
broke his jaw in an on-field collision with Danny Jackson. Cullen backstopped the Sounders to the A-League semifinals and was named Second Team All League. However, the Sounders released him at the end of the season. During his years with the Sounders, Cullen was stationed at McChord Air Force Base as an Air Force Reservist. In 2004, the Air Force transferred Cullen back to the Academy where he spent two seasons as an assistant with the Falcons' soccer team.