Indiana University Athletics
Sommer Joins Hoosier Staff As Volunteer Assistant Coach
8/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 30, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Former NCAA Goalkeeper of the Year Juergen Sommer returns to the Hoosiers for his first season as a volunteer assistant coach. He continues a tradition of successful Indiana players returning to their alma mater to coach.
"I am excited and pleased to have Juergen join our staff," head coach Mike Freitag said. "He brings a world of experience with him to Indiana, and will be an asset in all aspects of coaching. He was a great player here, and has been one of the top youth coaches in the state. I am glad to have him back at his alma mater to help continue the tradition of producing strong players."
Sommer had a long career as a player before retiring from competition in 2002. As a youth coach, he has led the Carmel United Soccer Club Cosmos team to three state championships (2004-06). His 2004 team won the United States Youth Soccer Association Directors Cup.
Sommer earned 10 international caps with the U.S. National Team from 1990 to 1998. He played in the World Cup in 1994 and 1998, and helped the team to a semifinal appearance in the 1995 Copa America.
Following his playing career at Indiana, Sommer signed with Luton Town of the English First Division in 1991. He led Luton Town to the FA Cup semifinals against Premier League powerhouse Chelsea in 1993, and was named the English goalkeeper of the year that season.
In 1995, he became the first American goalkeeper to play in the English Premier League when he when he suited up for Queens Park Rangers.
Sommer returned to the states in 1998, signing with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. Knee surgery sidelined him for the next couple years, and Sommer returned to MLS in 2000 with the New England Revolution, continuing until his retirement following the 2002 season. He played 54 games in his MLS career, making 249 saves. Sommer was named to the all-star team his final year.
While with the Revolution, he served as a volunteer assistant coach at Harvard University.
Sommer started in goal for four years at Indiana, earning 19 shutouts for the Hoosiers between 1987 and 1990. He made 271 saves, which ranks third on the all-time list at Indiana. Sommer was the 1990 NCAA adidas Goalkeeper of the Year, and led the 1988 team to an NCAA Championship. In both 1989 and 1990 he made 80 saves, which ranks second on the single-season list at Indiana.
Sommer is currently on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Soccer Foundation and on the Athletes Council of the U.S. Soccer Federation. In 2005, he was inducted into the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame.
Sommer and his wife Susie have two sons, Tommy (7) and Noah (4). They reside in Carmel, Ind.
