Ted Gillen
Encyclopedia
Ted Gillen is a former U.S. soccer defender
who currently coaches men’s high school soccer. Gillen played one season in Major Soccer League
, two in the American Professional Soccer League
, one in USISL and one in Major League Soccer
. He earned three caps with the U.S. national team
in 1988. He has also served as an assistant soccer coach at several universities.
and grew up in Toms River, New Jersey
. Gillen began playing soccer when he was four years old. At the time, his older brother was playing and after watching him play, Gillen insisted on also playing. He attended Toms River High School East
winning the 1985 New Jersey Group IV High School soccer championship. Gillen then attended Pennsylvania State University
where he played as a left back on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1989. Gillen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. In July 1990, the Cleveland Crunch
of Major Soccer League
selected Gillen with the tenth pick of that year’s draft. However, he decided against signing with the Crunch and instead became an assistant coach with Penn State before attending James Madison University
. He graduated from JMU with an MBA.
of the American Professional Soccer League
. He returned to the Spirit for the 1991 season, but also played one game, for a total of 34 minutes, with the Albany Capitals
. He then signed with the San Diego Sockers for the 1991-1992 Major Soccer League
season. In 1993, he played for the Richmond Kickers
of USISL. That fall, he returned to Penn State to become an assistant coach. On February 6, 1996, Gillen returned to professional soccer when the MetroStars
of Major League Soccer
selected Gillen in the sixth round (59th overall) of the Inaugural MLS Draft
. He played fifteen regular season games before leaving the MetroStars at the end of the season. In 1997, Gillen signed with the third division New Jersey Stallions
of the USISL. He played with the team through the 1999 season.
in June 1988. His first game came in a June 5, 1988 3-0 loss to Chile
. His last was a 1-0 win over Costa Rica
on June 14, 1988.
before becoming a high school soccer coach in 2002.
while he was working on his master’s degree. He returned to as an assistant coach in August 1993 and held that position until he signed with the MetroStars
in 1996. He was also an assistant at Maryland University and Syracuse University
. In 2002, Gillen became the girls’ head coach at Toms River High School North
in New Jersey
. He later returned to coach the boy’s team at his alma mater Toms River High School East
.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who currently coaches men’s high school soccer. Gillen played one season in Major 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...
, two in 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...
, one in USISL and one in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He earned three caps 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...
in 1988. He has also served as an assistant soccer coach at several universities.
Youth and college
Gillen was born in Kearny, New JerseyKearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
and grew up in Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
. Gillen began playing soccer when he was four years old. At the time, his older brother was playing and after watching him play, Gillen insisted on also playing. He attended Toms River High School East
Toms River High School East
Toms River High School East is a comprehensive four-year public high school, the third high school built in Toms River, New Jersey, as part of the Toms River Regional Schools. It was built in 1979, after the first and second high schools; Toms River High School South and Toms River High School...
winning the 1985 New Jersey Group IV High School soccer championship. Gillen then attended Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
where he played as a left back on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1989. Gillen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. In July 1990, 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 Major 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...
selected Gillen with the tenth pick of that year’s draft. However, he decided against signing with the Crunch and instead became an assistant coach with Penn State before attending James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
. He graduated from JMU with an MBA.
Professional
In 1990, Gillen signed with the Penn-Jersey SpiritPenn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit played in the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 and 1991. The team's home stadium was Lions Stadium in Ewing, New Jersey, on the campus of Trenton State College...
of 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 returned to the Spirit for the 1991 season, but also played one game, for a total of 34 minutes, with the Albany Capitals
Albany Capitals
The Albany Capitals joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1989. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
. He then signed with the San Diego Sockers for the 1991-1992 Major 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...
season. In 1993, he played for the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of USISL. That fall, he returned to Penn State to become an assistant coach. On February 6, 1996, Gillen returned to professional soccer when the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
selected Gillen in the sixth round (59th overall) of the Inaugural MLS Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played fifteen regular season games before leaving the MetroStars at the end of the season. In 1997, Gillen signed with the third division New Jersey Stallions
New Jersey Stallions
The New Jersey Stallions were an American soccer team, founded in 1996, which competed in various divisions of the United Soccer Leagues until 2004, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated....
of the USISL. He played with the team through the 1999 season.
National team
Gillen earned three caps 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 June 1988. His first game came in a June 5, 1988 3-0 loss to Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
. His last was a 1-0 win over Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
on June 14, 1988.
Non soccer career
In 1996, Gillen became an annuity specialist at Merrill LynchMerrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
before becoming a high school soccer coach in 2002.
Coaching
Following his graduation from Penn State, Gillen remained at the school as an assistant coach for the 1990 collegiate season. He was a volunteer assistant coach with James MadisonJames Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
while he was working on his master’s degree. He returned to as an assistant coach in August 1993 and held that position until he signed with the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
in 1996. He was also an assistant at Maryland University and Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. In 2002, Gillen became the girls’ head coach at Toms River High School North
Toms River High School North
Toms River High School North is a four-year public high school, and was the second high school established in Toms River, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Toms River Regional Schools. The school opened in 1969 when the original high school was found to be too...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He later returned to coach the boy’s team at his alma mater Toms River High School East
Toms River High School East
Toms River High School East is a comprehensive four-year public high school, the third high school built in Toms River, New Jersey, as part of the Toms River Regional Schools. It was built in 1979, after the first and second high schools; Toms River High School South and Toms River High School...
.