Mike Fisher (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Mike Fisher is a former U.S. collegiate soccer midfielder. After graduating from the University of Virginia, Fisher chose to pursue a medical rather than soccer career.
Fisher grew up in Batavia, Illinois
where he attended Batavia High School from 1989 to 1993. Fisher excelled both on the soccer field and in the classroom. In 1993, he graduated as class valedictorian
and as the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. At the time he graduated, Fisher ranked 5th on the Illinois State High School career scoring list with 140 career goals. Aside from playing soccer, Fisher also developed an interest in medicine while in high school.
Heavily recruited by many top colleges, Fisher chose to attend the University of Virginia
(UVa) where he played on the school's men's college soccer team under coach Bruce Arena
from 1993 to 1996. At the time the UVa Cavaliers
had the premier NCAA soccer program
. It shared the national championship in 1989 with Santa Clara
and beginning in 1991 would run off a string of 4 straight national titles. Over his four years with the program, Fisher became a star on the team. He finished his career as the school’s career points leader with 167 on 56 goals and 55 assists. This made him only the third collegiate player to amass both 50 career goals and 50 career assists. His senior year, he led the NCAA in assists, with 20.
Fisher received extensive recognition for his playing. He was selected as both first team All ACC and first team All American
his junior and senior years. He was also a second team All America as a sophomore. Fisher was twice named the ACC Player of the Year and won the Hermann Trophy
as the outstanding collegiate player in both 1995 and 1996, becoming only the fourth player since 1965 to win the trophy twice.
Despite these many successes, Fisher began losing interest in soccer by his last season in Virginia. The day after day grind of practice wore on the biology major and Fisher began considering alternates to professional soccer. In 1996, he took off the spring semester from school to train with the U-23 national team, then preparing for the 1996 Summer Olympics
. That experience proved decisive for Fisher, who was merely selected as an alternate. As Fisher put it, "When I got through my fourth year of college, I figured I lost a little interest in playing. It wasn't as much fun. I took the spring semester off to be with the Olympic team in San Diego. We were living the life of a professional soccer player. You couldn't go out and have a lot of fun. . . . When I returned to Virginia, I figured I would do something else. Luckily, I had medical school to fall back on."
Money also played a part in Fisher decision. In an interview for the UVa newspaper, Fisher explained, “Soccer's a little different in that if you come out of college and want to play, maybe you'll make $30,000 a year. If you're lucky and play well for five or six years, you maybe get up to high five figures in salary. If you go to medical school and come out of your residency, you start making six figures after two years of private practice.”
Finally, Fisher became interested in orthopedic medicine working with Dr. Frank McCue, a professor and surgeon who worked with the UVa soccer team. After Arena, the Olympic team coach, offered Fisher only an alternate slot on the team, Fisher decided instead to work with Dr. McCue for the rest of the summer. His time with the doctor cemented his decision to leave soccer and pursue medicine full time.
In the 1997 MLS College Draft
, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
selected Fisher in the first round, second overall. Fisher declined to join the team and instead entered the University of Virginia School of Medicine
. In 2000, Fisher was honored by Soccer America Magazine
by being named on its College Team of the Century
.
After graduating from the UVA School of Medicine, Fisher entered into a diagnostic radiology residency program at Duke University in the summer of 2003. He is currently serving as a chief resident there and will enter into a musculoskeletal radiology fellowship at Duke in 2007 following completion of residency.
When asked about his soccer past by fellow residents and attending radiologists, Fisher grins knowingly and simply states, "Yeah, I used to play a little bit.".
Fisher grew up in Batavia, Illinois
Batavia, Illinois
Batavia was founded in 1833, and is the oldest city in Kane County, Illinois, with a small portion in DuPage County. During the Industrial Revolution, Batavia became known as ‘The Windmill City’ for being the largest windmill producer of the time...
where he attended Batavia High School from 1989 to 1993. Fisher excelled both on the soccer field and in the classroom. In 1993, he graduated as class valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
and as the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. At the time he graduated, Fisher ranked 5th on the Illinois State High School career scoring list with 140 career goals. Aside from playing soccer, Fisher also developed an interest in medicine while in high school.
Heavily recruited by many top colleges, Fisher chose to attend the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
(UVa) where he played on the school's men's college soccer team under coach Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
from 1993 to 1996. At the time the UVa Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
had the premier NCAA soccer program
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...
. It shared the national championship in 1989 with Santa Clara
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
and beginning in 1991 would run off a string of 4 straight national titles. Over his four years with the program, Fisher became a star on the team. He finished his career as the school’s career points leader with 167 on 56 goals and 55 assists. This made him only the third collegiate player to amass both 50 career goals and 50 career assists. His senior year, he led the NCAA in assists, with 20.
Fisher received extensive recognition for his playing. He was selected as both first team All ACC and first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
his junior and senior years. He was also a second team All America as a sophomore. Fisher was twice named the ACC Player of the Year and won the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
as the outstanding collegiate player in both 1995 and 1996, becoming only the fourth player since 1965 to win the trophy twice.
Despite these many successes, Fisher began losing interest in soccer by his last season in Virginia. The day after day grind of practice wore on the biology major and Fisher began considering alternates to professional soccer. In 1996, he took off the spring semester from school to train with the U-23 national team, then preparing for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. That experience proved decisive for Fisher, who was merely selected as an alternate. As Fisher put it, "When I got through my fourth year of college, I figured I lost a little interest in playing. It wasn't as much fun. I took the spring semester off to be with the Olympic team in San Diego. We were living the life of a professional soccer player. You couldn't go out and have a lot of fun. . . . When I returned to Virginia, I figured I would do something else. Luckily, I had medical school to fall back on."
Money also played a part in Fisher decision. In an interview for the UVa newspaper, Fisher explained, “Soccer's a little different in that if you come out of college and want to play, maybe you'll make $30,000 a year. If you're lucky and play well for five or six years, you maybe get up to high five figures in salary. If you go to medical school and come out of your residency, you start making six figures after two years of private practice.”
Finally, Fisher became interested in orthopedic medicine working with Dr. Frank McCue, a professor and surgeon who worked with the UVa soccer team. After Arena, the Olympic team coach, offered Fisher only an alternate slot on the team, Fisher decided instead to work with Dr. McCue for the rest of the summer. His time with the doctor cemented his decision to leave soccer and pursue medicine full time.
In the 1997 MLS College Draft
1997 MLS College Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer College Draft.On February 1 and 2, 1997, Major League Soccer held its second annual college draft in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The draft was held in conjunction with the Umbro Select College All-Star Classic. The game was played on Saturday, February 1, 1997 at...
, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
selected Fisher in the first round, second overall. Fisher declined to join the team and instead entered the University of Virginia School of Medicine
University of Virginia School of Medicine
The University of Virginia School of Medicine is a medical school located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. The tenth medical school to open in the United States, it has been part of the University of Virginia since the University's establishment in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson...
. In 2000, Fisher was honored by Soccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine is a national American magazine devoted to soccer founded in the early 1970s and is still being published. Its primary focus is soccer in the United States, but it also covers the international game extensively. It was begun by publisher Clay Berling during a period of...
by being named on its College Team of the Century
Soccer America College Team of the Century
The Soccer America College Team of the Century were chosen by the editors of the American periodical Soccer America to comprise, as one men's and one women's eleven-member side divided each as one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, and three forwards, the best players of collegiate...
.
After graduating from the UVA School of Medicine, Fisher entered into a diagnostic radiology residency program at Duke University in the summer of 2003. He is currently serving as a chief resident there and will enter into a musculoskeletal radiology fellowship at Duke in 2007 following completion of residency.
When asked about his soccer past by fellow residents and attending radiologists, Fisher grins knowingly and simply states, "Yeah, I used to play a little bit.".