Jason Farrell
Encyclopedia
Jason Farrell is a former U.S. soccer midfielder
who spent four seasons in Major League Soccer
, two in the American Professional Soccer League
, one in the A-League, three in the National Professional Soccer League and four in the USL First Division
. He won two outdoor and one indoor championship and currently coaches youth soccer in the Seattle area.
, attending Shorecrest High School
and playing in the Seattle Youth Soccer Association. After graduating from Shorecrest in 1989, he attended Skagit Valley College
for one year before transferring to the University of Washington
for another year. While he played soccer at both Skagit and UW, he did not gain significant recognition until transferring to Seattle Pacific University
. Farrell played two seasons with SPU, graduating in 1992.
of the American Professional Soccer League
in 1994. He played three seasons in Seattle, winning the 1995 and 1996 championships. In the 1996 championship, he assisted on Joey Leonetti
’s first goal in a 2-0 championship victory over the Rochester Raging Rhinos
. In 1995, Farrell signed with the indoor Kansas City Attack
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). He would play two seasons in Kansas City, alternating between them and the outdoor Sounders. In 1996, the Attack lost in the finals, but took the championship in 1997, giving Farrell his third title. While he Farrell is listed in some sources as playing the 1997-1998 season with the Attack, he is not listed in their end of year statistics. In March 1997, the Columbus Crew
of Major League Soccer
selected Farrell in the second round (13th overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He played eighteen games, starting ten that season. On November 6, 1997, the Chicago Fire selected Farrell in the first round of the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft
. However, on February 20, 1998, the Fire traded Farrell back to the Columbus Crew in exchange for Frank Klopas
. Despite playing twenty-four games in the 2000 season, the Crew released Farrell after his relationship with head coach Tom Fitzgerald
became acrimonious. In January 2001, Farrell was signed by the Wichita Wings of the NPSL after his good friend Jason Dunn was lost for the season due to a neck injury. Farrell helped solidify the midfield for the Wings, and he helped lead them to the playoffs. Unfortunately after the season, the Wings' franchise folded after 22 years, and Farrell moved back to the Pacific Northwest to rejoin the Sounders. On January 30, 2001 he signed with the sounders, playing the 2001 season with them. However, on August 31, 2001, he was loaned to the Los Angeles Galaxy
of MLS when Brian Ching
was injured. Farrell remained an unused substitute during his short stint in Los Angeles. On September 14, 2004, announced Farrell intention to retire at the end of the season.
in April 2007, but was not on the coaching roster during the 1997 collegiate season. He has also served as an assistant coach with Seattle University
and youth clubs in the Seattle area. In 2007 Farrell joined Pacific Premier FC http://www.pacificpremierfc.com in Northern Snohomish County as their Coaching Director. In January 2010, he was named Technical Director of the Seattle United youth soccer club, as part of a coaching leadership team that also includes ex-Seattle Sounder Jimmy McAlister.
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 spent four seasons 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...
, 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 the A-League, three in the National Professional Soccer League and four in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He won two outdoor and one indoor championship and currently coaches youth soccer in the Seattle area.
High school and college
Farrell grew up in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, attending Shorecrest High School
Shorecrest High School
Shorecrest High School is a public high school in Shoreline, Washington, one of two high schools in the Shoreline School District. Shorecrest was founded in 1961. Its mascot is Otis the Fighting Scot and students refer to themselves as "Scots," or the "Highlanders," a reference to the Clan Gordon...
and playing in the Seattle Youth Soccer Association. After graduating from Shorecrest in 1989, he attended Skagit Valley College
Skagit Valley College
Skagit Valley College is a two-year community college serving Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties in northwest Washington state. Established in 1926, SVC grants academic transfer degrees, technical degrees, and certificates. The academic transfer degree and several professional/technical degrees...
for one year before transferring to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
for another year. While he played soccer at both Skagit and UW, he did not gain significant recognition until transferring to Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university of the liberal arts, sciences and professions, located on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1891 by the Oregon and Washington Conference of the Free Methodist Church as the Seattle Seminary...
. Farrell played two seasons with SPU, graduating in 1992.
Professional
Following his graduation from SPU in 1992, there is a two-year gap in his career before Farrell signed with the expansion Seattle SoundersSeattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
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...
in 1994. He played three seasons in Seattle, winning the 1995 and 1996 championships. In the 1996 championship, he assisted on Joey Leonetti
Joey Leonetti
Joe "Joey" Leonetti is a former U.S. soccer player. He played for numerous soccer teams over a career which began in 1988 with F.C. Portland and ended in 1999 with the Willamette Valley Firebirds. He also earned two caps with the U.S...
’s first goal in a 2-0 championship victory over the Rochester Raging Rhinos
Rochester Raging Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having self-relegated from the USSF D2 Pro League...
. In 1995, Farrell signed with the indoor Kansas City Attack
Kansas City Attack
The Kansas City Attack, previously the Atlanta Attack and later known as the Kansas City Comets, were an indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. In its various incarnations the franchise played in the National Professional Soccer League from 1989–2001 and the...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). He would play two seasons in Kansas City, alternating between them and the outdoor Sounders. In 1996, the Attack lost in the finals, but took the championship in 1997, giving Farrell his third title. While he Farrell is listed in some sources as playing the 1997-1998 season with the Attack, he is not listed in their end of year statistics. In March 1997, the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
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 Farrell in the second round (13th overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 2, 1997.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-External links:*...
. He played eighteen games, starting ten that season. On November 6, 1997, the Chicago Fire selected Farrell in the first round of the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft
1997 MLS Expansion Draft
The 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997. Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F.C., both expansion Major League Soccer clubs planned for the 1998 season.-Format:...
. However, on February 20, 1998, the Fire traded Farrell back to the Columbus Crew in exchange for Frank Klopas
Frank Klopas
Fotios "Frank" Klopas is a retired Greek-American soccer forward and midfielder. Klopas is currently the Head Coach for the Chicago Fire...
. Despite playing twenty-four games in the 2000 season, the Crew released Farrell after his relationship with head coach Tom Fitzgerald
Tom Fitzgerald (soccer)
Tom Fitzgerald was an American soccer coach.Fitzgerald played soccer at Hudson Valley Community College before transferring to the University of South Florida his junior season. He played soccer at USF and he graduated in 1974. In 1978, Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida hired Fitzgerald as...
became acrimonious. In January 2001, Farrell was signed by the Wichita Wings of the NPSL after his good friend Jason Dunn was lost for the season due to a neck injury. Farrell helped solidify the midfield for the Wings, and he helped lead them to the playoffs. Unfortunately after the season, the Wings' franchise folded after 22 years, and Farrell moved back to the Pacific Northwest to rejoin the Sounders. On January 30, 2001 he signed with the sounders, playing the 2001 season with them. However, on August 31, 2001, he was loaned to the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, 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, and the league's second...
of MLS when Brian Ching
Brian Ching
Brian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
was injured. Farrell remained an unused substitute during his short stint in Los Angeles. On September 14, 2004, announced Farrell intention to retire at the end of the season.
Coaching
On February 20, 2006, Farrell joined the Sounders as an assistant coach. He spent only one season in that position before leaving to become an assistant at Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university of the liberal arts, sciences and professions, located on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1891 by the Oregon and Washington Conference of the Free Methodist Church as the Seattle Seminary...
in April 2007, but was not on the coaching roster during the 1997 collegiate season. He has also served as an assistant coach with Seattle University
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
and youth clubs in the Seattle area. In 2007 Farrell joined Pacific Premier FC http://www.pacificpremierfc.com in Northern Snohomish County as their Coaching Director. In January 2010, he was named Technical Director of the Seattle United youth soccer club, as part of a coaching leadership team that also includes ex-Seattle Sounder Jimmy McAlister.