Jeff Hooker
Encyclopedia
Jeff Hooker is a retired U.S. soccer forward
who currently coaches the University of Denver
women's soccer team. Hooker earned twelve caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team
between 1984 and 1987 and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He played professionally in the Western Soccer Alliance and American Professional Soccer League
.
in Walnut, California
where he played on the school’s boys soccer team. He is tied for fifth on the California state high school list for most assists in a season (44 assists in 1982-1983). Hooker attended and played soccer at UCLA for three season between 1983 and 1987. He played as a freshman, but redshirted the 1984 season to play for the U.S. in the 1984 Summer Olympics
. He was injured in 1985 while playing with the national team and did not play for UCLA during the school’s run to the NCAA championship
. He finally got back on the field for UCLA in 1986. In 1987 he played his last season for UCLA, but did not complete his bachelor’s degree
until 1992. Over his three seasons with the Bruins, Hooker played in 51 games, scoring 20 goals and assisting on 11 other.
at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
in Mexico. He scored in his first game in that tournament, a 2-3 loss to Uruguay and earned three junior national team caps.
Hooker earned his first cap with the U.S. national team
in an October 9, 1984 victory over El Salvador
. That day, both he and fellow rookie Jacques LaDouceur
became one of the few first game tandems to score in a game, which the U.S. won 3-1. Hooker also played thirteen games for the U.S. B-Team which at the time formed the core of the U.S. Olympic Team, World University Team and Pan American Team.
of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) during the collegiate off-season. After leaving UCLA, he went on to play for the Los Angeles Heat
of the WSA in 1988 and 1989. His second season with the team saw him rise to sixth on the alliance’s points list with 19 on 7 goals and 5 assists. He was also named to the WSA First Team All Star team.
In 1991, he joined the Colorado Foxes
of the American Professional Soccer League
, which was formed by the merger of the Western Soccer Alliance and the American Soccer League
in 1990. Hooker remained with the Foxes during its glory years of 1991 to 1995. The team consistently finished towards the top of the league’s rankings and took the championship in 1992 and 1993. In 1991, Hooker played 19 games (starting 17) and scored 3 goals. In 1992, he played only 7 games, scoring 2 goals in the regular season. However, in the Professional Cup, he scored two goals with one coming in the Foxes 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 1995, he scored 7 goals. There are no records for his other seasons with the Foxes.
women’s soccer team, guiding them to a Colorado Athletic Conference championship. In 2002 and 2003, Hooker was named the Sun Belt Conference coach of the year. In 1996 and 1997, he also served as the school’s men’s soccer coach. During those two seasons, he compiled a 20-12-4 record.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who currently coaches the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
women's soccer team. Hooker earned twelve caps, scoring one goal, 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...
between 1984 and 1987 and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He played professionally in the Western Soccer Alliance and 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...
.
High school and college
Hooker attended Walnut High SchoolWalnut High School
Walnut High School is located in Walnut, California, among the San Jose Hills of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. It is a public school in the Walnut Valley Unified School District. The school is a two-time National Blue Ribbon school and five-time California Distinguished school...
in Walnut, California
Walnut, California
Walnut is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 29,172 at the 2010 census and its current mayor is Tom King, a former Detective from the Los Angeles Police Department....
where he played on the school’s boys soccer team. He is tied for fifth on the California state high school list for most assists in a season (44 assists in 1982-1983). Hooker attended and played soccer at UCLA for three season between 1983 and 1987. He played as a freshman, but redshirted the 1984 season to play for the U.S. in the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
. He was injured in 1985 while playing with the national team and did not play for UCLA during the school’s run to the NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
. He finally got back on the field for UCLA in 1986. In 1987 he played his last season for UCLA, but did not complete his bachelor’s degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
until 1992. Over his three seasons with the Bruins, Hooker played in 51 games, scoring 20 goals and assisting on 11 other.
National and Olympic teams
Hooker's reputation at the high school level led to his selection for the U.S. U-20 national teamUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, the fourth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Mexico from June 2 to June 19, 1983. The tournament took place in seven venues — Guadalajara, Irapuato, León, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puebla and Toluca — where a total of 32 matches were...
in Mexico. He scored in his first game in that tournament, a 2-3 loss to Uruguay and earned three junior national team caps.
Hooker earned his first cap 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 an October 9, 1984 victory over El Salvador
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
. That day, both he and fellow rookie Jacques LaDouceur
Jacques LaDouceur
Jacques LaDouceur is a retired Haitian-American soccer forward. He played two seasons in Greece before returning to the U.S. for eight seasons of indoor soccer. He also earned ten caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S...
became one of the few first game tandems to score in a game, which the U.S. won 3-1. Hooker also played thirteen games for the U.S. B-Team which at the time formed the core of the U.S. Olympic Team, World University Team and Pan American Team.
Professional
In 1986, Hooker played a single season as a forward with the San Diego NomadsSan Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) during the collegiate off-season. After leaving UCLA, he went on to play for the Los Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. They joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League...
of the WSA in 1988 and 1989. His second season with the team saw him rise to sixth on the alliance’s points list with 19 on 7 goals and 5 assists. He was also named to the WSA First Team All Star team.
In 1991, he joined the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
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...
, which was formed by the merger of the Western Soccer Alliance and 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...
in 1990. Hooker remained with the Foxes during its glory years of 1991 to 1995. The team consistently finished towards the top of the league’s rankings and took the championship in 1992 and 1993. In 1991, Hooker played 19 games (starting 17) and scored 3 goals. In 1992, he played only 7 games, scoring 2 goals in the regular season. However, in the Professional Cup, he scored two goals with one coming in the Foxes 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 1995, he scored 7 goals. There are no records for his other seasons with the Foxes.
Coaching
In 1992, besides playing professionally with the Colorado Foxes, Hooker became head coach of the University of DenverUniversity of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
women’s soccer team, guiding them to a Colorado Athletic Conference championship. In 2002 and 2003, Hooker was named the Sun Belt Conference coach of the year. In 1996 and 1997, he also served as the school’s men’s soccer coach. During those two seasons, he compiled a 20-12-4 record.