Troy Dayak
Encyclopedia
Troy Dayak is a former American soccer player who played as central defender
. He spent his entire Major League Soccer
career with the San Jose Clash/Earthquakes
and nearly all of his professional career playing for Bay Area
teams.
) grew up in Walnut Creek, California
and attended Livermore High School
. In 1989, he attended the University of San Francisco for one year and then signed with the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
of the Western Soccer League
(WSL). Seventeen years old at the time, he was the youngest player to sign with the WSL or its successor leagues, the APSL and A-League. In 1990, the WSL merged with the American Soccer League
to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). In 1991, the Blackhawks won the APSL championship and Dayak was named a first team All Star.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1991/1991.htm In 1993, the Blackhawks owner moved the team to the lower division USISL and renamed the team the San Jose Hawks. Despite going to the 1993 Sizzlin' Six tournament, the team folded at the end of the season.
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), helping lead them to the 1993-1994 NPSL title.http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/soccer/misl/misl93.txt In 1995, he signed with the San Jose Grizzlies
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL).http://www.kicksfan.com/1995/box/season/game21.htm
in second round of the Inaugural MLS Draft
(19th overall). Troy, who had strong roots in the San Francisco Bay Area, refused to sign with the league and move his family to the New York area. Therefore, he was traded by the MetroStars to the San Jose Clash
(later to be named the Earthquakes) in exchange for Rhett Harty
and first round pick in 1996 College Draft
.
He was a solid starter for the Clash until, in August 1997, he suffered a violent collision snapping his head backwards. Troy's neck was already aggravated due to two previous neck injuries, and he was very close to becoming paralyzed. Troy was told that he would never play again. Nonetheless, in October 1997, he underwent surgery that fused a piece of bone from Troy's hip onto his 5th and 6th vertebrae.
After a long march to recovery, he rejoined the Clash in 1998 only to be waived at the end of the season. In 1999 Dayak signed with the San Francisco Bay Seals
of the A-league. Early in the 1999 season, Dayak suffered a major knee injury damaging his medial collateral ligament
(MCF) and posterior cruciate ligament
(PCL). After a difficult recovery complicated by infection, Troy rejoined the Seals for the 2000 campaign as a player and coach. He was honored that season when he made the A League all stars.
In 2001 Troy was signed by Frank Yallop
, new head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes. When not suffering from a multitude of injuries (upper back sprain, shoulder sprain, neck sprain, abdominal strain, sports hernia, food poisoning), Troy has been a solid starter for the Quakes, helping lead the team to two MLS Cup
s in 2001 and 2003. Dayak earned the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award
in 2001. Dayak has scored eight goals and added seven assists in his seven years in the league.
. He was part of the U-20 team to place fourth in the World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia
. He also represented the USA in 1992 Olympics
in Barcelona
. He also earned 9 caps for the senior national team. His earned his first cap on September 15, 1990 in a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago
. He entered the game in the 65th minute for Steve Pittman
. His last game came on March 16, 1991 in the 1991 NAFC Championship
, a 2-0 victory over Canada
.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det90.html
for the MISL expansion franchise, the California Cougars
, who are based in Stockton, California
. However, on Saturday, January 27, 2007, he was fired by the California Cougars after the team began the season 5-13.http://tracypress.com/content/view/7462/2/
, California. He is a National "A" coaching license and in 2007 earned his NSCAA Director of Coaching Certification.
Troy owns a retail soccer store in Tracy
, California, as well as an alfalfa
farm. Married to wife Karen, they have two children, daughter Adaurie and son T.J.
He also provided color analysis for CSN Bay Area
and CSN California broadcasts of San Jose Earthquakes
games for the 2008 and 2009 Major League Soccer
seasons.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He spent his entire 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...
career with the San Jose Clash/Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
and nearly all of his professional career playing for Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
teams.
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
Dayak (nicknamed CowboyCowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
) grew up in Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
and attended Livermore High School
Livermore High School
Founded in 1891, Livermore High School is a public high school located in the city of Livermore, California, USA, and is part of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District . In 2007, it was chosen as one in four schools in Alameda County to receive the California Distinguished School...
. In 1989, he attended the University of San Francisco for one year and then signed with the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks was a professional soccer team which came into existence in 1989 as a team in the Western Soccer League . The Blackhawks spent time in the American Professional Soccer League and the United States Interregional Soccer League...
of the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
(WSL). Seventeen years old at the time, he was the youngest player to sign with the WSL or its successor leagues, the APSL and A-League. In 1990, the WSL merged with the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
to form 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...
(APSL). In 1991, the Blackhawks won the APSL championship and Dayak was named a first team All Star.http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1991/1991.htm In 1993, the Blackhawks owner moved the team to the lower division USISL and renamed the team the San Jose Hawks. Despite going to the 1993 Sizzlin' Six tournament, the team folded at the end of the season.
Indoor soccer
In 1993, Troy signed 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...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), helping lead them to the 1993-1994 NPSL title.http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/soccer/misl/misl93.txt In 1995, he signed with the San Jose Grizzlies
San Jose Grizzlies
San Jose Grizzlies were a professional indoor soccer team based in San Jose, California. The team was founded on November 24, 1993 as a member of the Continental Indoor Soccer League. After playing in the 1994 and 1995 CISL seasons, the Grizzlies folded following the 1995 season. The team played...
of 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...
(CISL).http://www.kicksfan.com/1995/box/season/game21.htm
MLS
In 1996, he was selected by MetroStarsMetrostars
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 second round 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...
(19th overall). Troy, who had strong roots in the San Francisco Bay Area, refused to sign with the league and move his family to the New York area. Therefore, he was traded by the MetroStars to the San Jose Clash
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
(later to be named the Earthquakes) in exchange for Rhett Harty
Rhett Harty
Rhett Stowe Harty was an American soccer defender who spent one season in the Western Soccer League, one in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, one in the USISL and three with the MetroStars of Major League Soccer....
and first round pick in 1996 College Draft
1996 MLS College Draft
-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. First, the league allocated four "big name" players to each team. Then on...
.
He was a solid starter for the Clash until, in August 1997, he suffered a violent collision snapping his head backwards. Troy's neck was already aggravated due to two previous neck injuries, and he was very close to becoming paralyzed. Troy was told that he would never play again. Nonetheless, in October 1997, he underwent surgery that fused a piece of bone from Troy's hip onto his 5th and 6th vertebrae.
After a long march to recovery, he rejoined the Clash in 1998 only to be waived at the end of the season. In 1999 Dayak signed with the San Francisco Bay Seals
San Francisco Bay Seals
San Francisco Seals was an American soccer team based in San Francisco, California, United States. Founded in 1992, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise left the league.The team played its home games...
of the A-league. Early in the 1999 season, Dayak suffered a major knee injury damaging his medial collateral ligament
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
(MCF) and posterior cruciate ligament
Posterior cruciate ligament
The posterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It connects the posterior intercondylar area of the tibia to the medial condyle of the femur...
(PCL). After a difficult recovery complicated by infection, Troy rejoined the Seals for the 2000 campaign as a player and coach. He was honored that season when he made the A League all stars.
In 2001 Troy was signed by Frank Yallop
Frank Yallop
Frank Walter Yallop is an English-born Canadian former professional association football player. He is currently the head coach of San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer....
, new head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes. When not suffering from a multitude of injuries (upper back sprain, shoulder sprain, neck sprain, abdominal strain, sports hernia, food poisoning), Troy has been a solid starter for the Quakes, helping lead the team to two MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
s in 2001 and 2003. Dayak earned the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award
In the United States, Major League Soccer has handed out a Comeback Player of the Year award since 2000. Here is a list of the past winners:...
in 2001. Dayak has scored eight goals and added seven assists in his seven years in the league.
National and Olympic teams
Dayak had a notable youth soccer career playing in the U-16, U-20 and U-23 United States national soccer teamsUnited 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...
. He was part of the U-20 team to place fourth in the World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. He also represented the USA in 1992 Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He also earned 9 caps for the senior national team. His earned his first cap on September 15, 1990 in a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
. He entered the game in the 65th minute for Steve Pittman
Steve Pittman
Steve Pittman is a retired American soccer defender who spent most of his career in the Scottish leagues. He also played professionally in the United States with Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and Major League Soccer...
. His last game came on March 16, 1991 in the 1991 NAFC Championship
1991 NAFC Championship
-Champion:-Scorers:Two Goals Bruce Murray Dante Washington Luis Roberto AlvesOne Goal Missael Espinoza Luis Antonio Valdéz Pedro Duana-References:* *...
, a 2-0 victory over Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det90.html
Coaching
Troy has announced that he would retire after the 2005 MLS season. Even before his retirement became official, he was named head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the MISL expansion franchise, the California Cougars
California Cougars
The California Cougars are an indoor soccer team, founded in 2004. The team is a charter member of the Professional Arena Soccer League , the first division of arena soccer in North America....
, who are based in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
. However, on Saturday, January 27, 2007, he was fired by the California Cougars after the team began the season 5-13.http://tracypress.com/content/view/7462/2/
Post-retirement
Since June 2, 2005, Dayak has been the Technical Director of the Livermore Youth Soccer League.LivermoreLivermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
, California. He is a National "A" coaching license and in 2007 earned his NSCAA Director of Coaching Certification.
Troy owns a retail soccer store in Tracy
Tracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, California, as well as an alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
farm. Married to wife Karen, they have two children, daughter Adaurie and son T.J.
He also provided color analysis for CSN Bay Area
CSN Bay Area
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area is a regional sports network that serves cable outlets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as other parts of Northern California, Central California, Southern Oregon, and Nevada.-History:...
and CSN California broadcasts of San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
games for the 2008 and 2009 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...
seasons.