Jim Bokern
Encyclopedia
Jim Bokern is a retired U.S. soccer forward
who played three seasons in the North American Soccer League
. He then went on to coach at the high school, collegiate and amateur levels. He won a high school state title, three NCAA Division I, a National Amateur Cup
, a U.S. Open Cup, and two USSF Over-30 Cup championship as a player as well as two high school state titles, one U.S. Open Cup championship, two U.S. U-20 Cup titles and two U.S. O-30 Cup titles as a coach.
where he played on the 1970 Undefeated Missouri State championship soccer team. He was named the team’s Offensive MVP. He then attended St. Louis University, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1970 to 1973. During those years, the Billikens won the NCAA Division I national championship
three times (1970, 1972 and 1973). He was inducted into the St. Louis University Hall of Fame in 1996. During his college years, he also played for St. Louis Kutis S.C.
with whom he won the 1971 National Amateur Cup
. In that game, he scored two goals as Kutis defeated Cleveland Inter-Italian 4-1. In 1974, the St. Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League
drafted Bokern. He spent three seasons in the NASL. He then played at the semi-professional and amateur levels for over twenty years with Kutis. In 1985, Bokern and his team mates won the U.S. Open Cup title.
soccer team to the State Championship. In 1983, he coached Forest Park Community College when it was runner up in the National Junior College national championship. He was also the 1983 NJCAA Coach of the Year. In 1985, he coached, as well as played on, Kutis F.C. when it won the U.S. Open Cup. In 1994, Bokern was hired as head coach of the St. Louis Knights
of the USISL. In 1996, he was named Missouri High School Coach of the Year for a second time, this time as head coach of his alma mater, St. Mary’s High School
, Bokern earned an USSF "A" Coaching License in 1996 and an USSF "Y" Coaching License in 2008.
In addition to coaching youth soccer, Bokern is the owner/broker of Bokern Realty in St. Louis.
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 played three seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He then went on to coach at the high school, collegiate and amateur levels. He won a high school state title, three NCAA Division I, a National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
, a U.S. Open Cup, and two USSF Over-30 Cup championship as a player as well as two high school state titles, one U.S. Open Cup championship, two U.S. U-20 Cup titles and two U.S. O-30 Cup titles as a coach.
Player
Bokern grew up in South St. Louis. He attended St. Mary’s High SchoolSt. Mary's High School (St. Louis, Missouri)
St. Mary’s High School is an all-boys' Catholic high school located in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. A part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, St. Mary’s High School serves young men in the Marianist tradition. - History :St...
where he played on the 1970 Undefeated Missouri State championship soccer team. He was named the team’s Offensive MVP. He then attended St. Louis University, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1970 to 1973. During those years, the Billikens won the NCAA Division I national 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...
three times (1970, 1972 and 1973). He was inducted into the St. Louis University Hall of Fame in 1996. During his college years, he also played for St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the St. Louis Raiders, the club was known as Paul Schulte during the 1948-49 season and McMahon's during the 1949-50 season. In 1953, the team was renamed...
with whom he won the 1971 National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
. In that game, he scored two goals as Kutis defeated Cleveland Inter-Italian 4-1. In 1974, the St. Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
drafted Bokern. He spent three seasons in the NASL. He then played at the semi-professional and amateur levels for over twenty years with Kutis. In 1985, Bokern and his team mates won the U.S. Open Cup title.
Coach
Bokern has coached at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He was the 1977 Missouri High School Coach of the Year. That season, he had taken the Oakville High SchoolOakville High School
Oakville Senior High School is a secondary school in Oakville, Missouri operated by the Mehlville School District.Oakville High School is located in a suburb in the South County Area of St...
soccer team to the State Championship. In 1983, he coached Forest Park Community College when it was runner up in the National Junior College national championship. He was also the 1983 NJCAA Coach of the Year. In 1985, he coached, as well as played on, Kutis F.C. when it won the U.S. Open Cup. In 1994, Bokern was hired as head coach of the St. Louis Knights
St. Louis Knights
The St. Louis Knights were an American soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. The team began in the USISL and moved to the USISL Pro League in 1995. The team was coached both seasons by Jim Bokern.-Year-by-year:...
of the USISL. In 1996, he was named Missouri High School Coach of the Year for a second time, this time as head coach of his alma mater, St. Mary’s High School
St. Mary's High School (St. Louis, Missouri)
St. Mary’s High School is an all-boys' Catholic high school located in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. A part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, St. Mary’s High School serves young men in the Marianist tradition. - History :St...
, Bokern earned an USSF "A" Coaching License in 1996 and an USSF "Y" Coaching License in 2008.
In addition to coaching youth soccer, Bokern is the owner/broker of Bokern Realty in St. Louis.