Ronald Coder
Encyclopedia
Ron Coder was a U.S. soccer goalkeeper
who was a member of the U.S. team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
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Coder grew up in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
where he was a state champion high school track star. He entered Penn State University in 1947. Bill Jeffrey
spotted Coder playing an intramural soccer game during Coder’s sophomore year and recruited him into the school’s soccer team. Coder and his team mates went on to win the 1950 and 1951 college championships. Coder graduated in the spring of 1951, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force
and became a tanker pilot. In 1955, he joined the Armed Forces soccer team. As a result, he attended trials for the 1956 U.S. Olympic soccer team and was selected as the team’s starting goalkeeper. Prior to the tournament in Melbourne, Australia, the U.S. toured the Far East. In a game in Hong Kong, Coder broke his ankle when kicked by an opposing team’s forward and he did not play in the lone U.S. game, a 9-1 loss to Yugoslavia.
Coder continued to serve in the Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. His son, Ron Coder
later played football at Penn State and with the Seattle Seahawks
.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who was a member of the U.S. team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
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Coder grew up in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
where he was a state champion high school track star. He entered Penn State University in 1947. Bill Jeffrey
William Jeffrey (soccer)
William "Bill" Jeffrey was the head coach of the 1950 United States World Cup team that famously beat England 1-0 in one of the greatest upsets in the history of soccer. He was the coach of Penn State for 26 seasons, winning ten national college championships...
spotted Coder playing an intramural soccer game during Coder’s sophomore year and recruited him into the school’s soccer team. Coder and his team mates went on to win the 1950 and 1951 college championships. Coder graduated in the spring of 1951, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and became a tanker pilot. In 1955, he joined the Armed Forces soccer team. As a result, he attended trials for the 1956 U.S. Olympic soccer team and was selected as the team’s starting goalkeeper. Prior to the tournament in Melbourne, Australia, the U.S. toured the Far East. In a game in Hong Kong, Coder broke his ankle when kicked by an opposing team’s forward and he did not play in the lone U.S. game, a 9-1 loss to Yugoslavia.
Coder continued to serve in the Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. His son, Ron Coder
Ron Coder
Ronald William Coder is a former professional American football player who played in 5 NFL seasons from 1976-1980 for the Seattle Seahawks and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently head coach of the Pittsburgh Passion of the Independent Women's Football League...
later played football at Penn State and with the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
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