Rob Baarts
Encyclopedia
Robert "Rob" Baarts is a retired Canadian soccer forward
who currently coaches youth soccer in the Portland, Oregon
area of the United States
.
and attended college at the University of Portland
. He spent four seasons on the Pilot’s soccer team under coach Clive Charles
. When he finished his career at Portland, he had 29 goals and 14 assists. Baarts’ highlight with the Pilots came in 1988 when he, Scott Benedetti
and Kasey Keller
took Portland to the NCAA Final Four where they lost to eventual champions Indiana University
.
of the Western Soccer League
. He was tied for seventh on the league’s scoring list with seven goals.
Baarts has also played professionally with the Portland Pride
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL), as well as the Portland Pythons
and the Utah Freezz
, both of the World Indoor Soccer League
(WISL). In 1995, he was a CISL All Star with the Pride. In 1997, the Edmonton Drillers
of the National Professional Soccer League selected Baarts in the dispersal draft after the CISL collapsed. However, he did not sign with the Drillers. In 1998, he signed with the Portland Pythons
of the Premier Soccer Alliance but he collided with Tatu
during an early season game against the Dallas Sidekicks
. The collision resulted in a season ending injury. In the spring of 2000, the expansion St. Louis Steamers drafted Baarts, then traded him to the Utah Freezz
in exchange for future considerations. He was the 2000 WISL Defensive Player of the Year. In 2001, Baarts joined the Portland Timbers
of the USL First Division
. However, he was injured after impressing the coaching staff during the pre-season. The Timbers released him before he played a game with them.
boys soccer coach beginning in 1995. He left that position in 2002. In 2001, he joined the F.C. Portland staff. Finally, in June 2004, the University of Portland
hired Baarts as an assistant to both the men’s and women’s soccer teams.
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 youth soccer in the Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
area of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
College
Rob Baarts grew up in Surrey, British ColumbiaSurrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
and attended college at the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
. He spent four seasons on the Pilot’s soccer team under coach Clive Charles
Clive Charles
Clive Charles was a football player, coach and television announcer. Charles began his career with West Ham United and finished it in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He later coached at the high school, collegiate and international levels in the United States.-Player:Charles was born in London,...
. When he finished his career at Portland, he had 29 goals and 14 assists. Baarts’ highlight with the Pilots came in 1988 when he, Scott Benedetti
Scott Benedetti
Scott “Benny” Benedetti is a retired American soccer player. He began his professional career with the semi-professional F.C. Portland in 1986 and ended it with the U.S. second division club Portland Timbers in 2005. While he spent most of his career in the lower U.S...
and Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
took Portland to the NCAA Final Four where they lost to eventual champions Indiana University
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
.
Professional
In 1989, he also spent the collegiate off season with the Portland TimbersF.C. Portland
Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came...
of the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
. He was tied for seventh on the league’s scoring list with seven goals.
Baarts has also played professionally with the Portland Pride
Portland Pride
The Portland Pride are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997.-History:In 1993, a new league, the Continental Indoor Soccer League began its first season. Traditionally, indoor soccer has been a winter sport, but the CISL decided to...
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
(CISL), as well as the Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Premier Soccer Alliance in 1998 which changed its name to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team folded at the end of the 1999 season.-History:...
and the Utah Freezz
Utah Freezz
The Utah Freezz were an indoor soccer team based in West Valley City, Utah, United States. The Freezz were an expansion team of the formed World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team played in the E Center....
, both of the World Indoor Soccer League
World Indoor Soccer League
The World Indoor Soccer League was a United States based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.-History:...
(WISL). In 1995, he was a CISL All Star with the Pride. In 1997, the Edmonton Drillers
Edmonton Drillers (NPSL)
-Resurrection:On August 23, 1996, at a hastily arranged press conference at Telus Field it was announced that Peter Pocklington has purchased the Chicago Power of the National Professional Soccer League and was moving them to Edmonton for the rapidly approaching 96/97 season...
of the National Professional Soccer League selected Baarts in the dispersal draft after the CISL collapsed. However, he did not sign with the Drillers. In 1998, he signed with the Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons
Portland Pythons are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Premier Soccer Alliance in 1998 which changed its name to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team folded at the end of the 1999 season.-History:...
of the Premier Soccer Alliance but he collided with Tatu
Tatu (soccer)
Antonio Carlos Pecorari , commonly known as Tatu, is a former Brazilian football player, one of the most accomplished indoor soccer players of all time....
during an early season game against the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
. The collision resulted in a season ending injury. In the spring of 2000, the expansion St. Louis Steamers drafted Baarts, then traded him to the Utah Freezz
Utah Freezz
The Utah Freezz were an indoor soccer team based in West Valley City, Utah, United States. The Freezz were an expansion team of the formed World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team played in the E Center....
in exchange for future considerations. He was the 2000 WISL Defensive Player of the Year. In 2001, Baarts joined the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of 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....
. However, he was injured after impressing the coaching staff during the pre-season. The Timbers released him before he played a game with them.
Coaching
Baarts has held numerous coaching positions at the youth level. In 1989, he became a coach with Portland City United. In 1992, he moved to Portland Metro where he coached for twelve years. While coaching Metro, he also served as the Sunset High SchoolSunset High School (Portland)
Sunset High School is a public high school in Beaverton, Oregon, United States. The school currently offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme...
boys soccer coach beginning in 1995. He left that position in 2002. In 2001, he joined the F.C. Portland staff. Finally, in June 2004, the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
hired Baarts as an assistant to both the men’s and women’s soccer teams.