San Jose Frogs
Encyclopedia
San Jose Frogs was an American soccer team based in San Jose, California
, United States
. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games in PAL Stadium
in San Jose in 2006 and 2007, and at James Lick Memorial Stadium on the campus of James Lick High School
in 2008. The team's colors were red and black.
The club's nickname, the Frogs, came from the club's owner, German
industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger
, whose company Frog Design Inc.
was responsible for the first Apple Macintosh computer in 1981, amongst other things.
, but they failed to take to the field in their original season. They finally made their debut in 2006 and impressed immediately, finishing their freshman season with a 12-4-4 record and second in the table behind eventual national champions Sacramento Knights
. The Frogs played in PAL Stadium
in San Jose in 2006 and 2007, with good support from local soccer fans who were left without a team when the San Jose Earthquakes
, a Major League Soccer
team, relocated to Houston and became the Houston Dynamo
.
and Southern California Seahorses
. The consistent run of form continued throughout the season, and despite a couple of defeats to Bakersfield Brigade
and Ventura County Fusion
, remained one of the four teams in contention for a playoff spot as the season wound down. A 3-2 loss to Fresno Fuego
at the beginning of July put a spoke in the wheel, and despite ending their campaign with 2 wins - 4-1 over Orange County Blue Star
and 2-0 over the San Francisco Seals - other teams results went against them, and they finished the season a close third, just one point adrift of Fresno Fuego
and the San Fernando Valley Quakes
. Jacob Wilson
was the top scorer of the very impressive opening campaign; testament to this was the fact that, in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft
, seven Frogs were drafted by Major League Soccer
, including Brandon McDonald
and Luke Sassano
.
For the 2008 season, the Frogs moved to a new home ground, James Lick Memorial Stadium on the campus of James Lick High School
, an artificial turf field with permanent American football
lines. Also in 2008, the San Jose Earthquakes
returned as an expansion franchise, bringing top-flight soccer back to the area. These factors reduced the size of Frogs' crowds considerably, but did not seem to affect the on-field product, which was at times very impressive. They started the season strongly, with three wins in their first four games, including a 3-1 win away at San Fernando Valley Quakes
that featured a brace by Andrew Wiedeman
and handed the Quakes their first home loss in almost 2 years. However, after this promising start, the rest of the year was one of frustrating inconsistency, in which a dominant win (2-0 over Southern California Seahorses
), would be followed by a disappointing loss or a tie. The Frogs did make a finale late push for the playoffs, winning three of their last five games, including a 4-1 over Lancaster Rattlers
and a dominant 3-0 away victory over San Francisco Seals on the final day of the season, but in the end it was not enough; they finished the season comfortably mid-table in 5th position. Andrew Wiedeman
was the Frogs' top goal scorer with 6 for the season, and also contributed a team-best 3 assists.
In August 2008, the Frogs organization announced that the franchise was closing down, citing a "lack of community interest in top amateur soccer" for the team's demise. The team's attendance dropped significantly in their final season to a mere 20 paid tickets a game.
Stefan Frei
Peter Lowry
Matt Marquess
Brandon McDonald
Luke Sassano
Adam Sloustcher Adam Smarte
Rob Valentino
Stephen Wondolowski
Andrew Wiedeman
(2008) Aaron Castro (2008)
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games in PAL Stadium
PAL Stadium
Police Athletic League Stadium is a stadium located in San Jose, California owned by the SJ division of the Police Athletic League, the stadium seats 5,000. It was formerly the home to the USL Premier Development League minor league soccer club San Jose Frogs....
in San Jose in 2006 and 2007, and at James Lick Memorial Stadium on the campus of James Lick High School
James Lick High School
James Lick High School is a high school in the East Side Union High School District located in San Jose.-History:Lick High School was built in 1950 and is the oldest of the eleven high schools in the ESUHSD...
in 2008. The team's colors were red and black.
The club's nickname, the Frogs, came from the club's owner, German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger
Hartmut Esslinger
Hartmut Esslinger is a German-American industrial designer and inventor. He is known for his design company Frogdesign, particularly his work for Apple Computer in the 1980s.-Life and career:...
, whose company Frog Design Inc.
Frog design inc.
Frog is a global innovation firm founded in 1969 by industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger and partners Andreas Haug and Georg Spreng in Mutlangen, Germany as "Esslinger Design". Soon after it moved to Altensteig, Germany, and then to Palo Alto, California, and ultimately to its current...
was responsible for the first Apple Macintosh computer in 1981, amongst other things.
National Premier Soccer League
The Frogs began life in 2005 as an announced expansion franchise in the National Premier Soccer LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
, but they failed to take to the field in their original season. They finally made their debut in 2006 and impressed immediately, finishing their freshman season with a 12-4-4 record and second in the table behind eventual national champions Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights (NPSL)
Sacramento Knights is an American soccer team based in Folsom, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team played in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the...
. The Frogs played in PAL Stadium
PAL Stadium
Police Athletic League Stadium is a stadium located in San Jose, California owned by the SJ division of the Police Athletic League, the stadium seats 5,000. It was formerly the home to the USL Premier Development League minor league soccer club San Jose Frogs....
in San Jose in 2006 and 2007, with good support from local soccer fans who were left without a team when the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, a Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
team, relocated to Houston and became the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
.
USL Premier Development League
In the 2006-07 offseason, seeking a greater challenge, the team made the previously unprecedented jump from the NPSL to the PDL. Right out of the gate, the Frogs were as impressive in the PDL as they were in the NPSL, winning five of their first six games, including a pair of 2-1 victories against traditional divisional powerhouses Orange County Blue StarOrange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...
and Southern California Seahorses
Southern California Seahorses
Southern California Seahorses is an American soccer team based in La Mirada, California, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home...
. The consistent run of form continued throughout the season, and despite a couple of defeats to Bakersfield Brigade
Bakersfield Brigade
Bakersfield Brigade was an American soccer team based in Bakersfield, California, United States. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The...
and Ventura County Fusion
Ventura County Fusion
Ventura County Fusion is an American soccer team based in Ventura, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games in...
, remained one of the four teams in contention for a playoff spot as the season wound down. A 3-2 loss to Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego is an American soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Chukchansi...
at the beginning of July put a spoke in the wheel, and despite ending their campaign with 2 wins - 4-1 over Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...
and 2-0 over the San Francisco Seals - other teams results went against them, and they finished the season a close third, just one point adrift of Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego is an American soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Chukchansi...
and the San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes was an American soccer team based in Calabasas, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...
. Jacob Wilson
Jacob Wilson
Jacob Wilson is an American racing driver.Wilson began speedway karting in 2003 and in 2008 entered his first USAC Sprint Car and Silver Crown races. He won a National sprint car race at Salem Speedway. In 2009 he finished 21st in Sprint car points and 16th in Silver Crown points but failed to win...
was the top scorer of the very impressive opening campaign; testament to this was the fact that, in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft
2008 MLS SuperDraft
The 2008 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 18, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the ninth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was made by the Kansas City Wizards, after acquiring the selection from the expansion San Jose Earthquakes...
, seven Frogs were drafted by Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, including Brandon McDonald
Brandon McDonald (soccer)
Brandon McDonald is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-Amateur and College:...
and Luke Sassano
Luke Sassano
Luke Sassano is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer. Sassano has played at various positions including as a holding midfielder, right back and central defender.-Youth and College:Sassano began his career at Lamorinda Soccer Club...
.
For the 2008 season, the Frogs moved to a new home ground, James Lick Memorial Stadium on the campus of James Lick High School
James Lick High School
James Lick High School is a high school in the East Side Union High School District located in San Jose.-History:Lick High School was built in 1950 and is the oldest of the eleven high schools in the ESUHSD...
, an artificial turf field with permanent American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
lines. Also in 2008, the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
returned as an expansion franchise, bringing top-flight soccer back to the area. These factors reduced the size of Frogs' crowds considerably, but did not seem to affect the on-field product, which was at times very impressive. They started the season strongly, with three wins in their first four games, including a 3-1 win away at San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes was an American soccer team based in Calabasas, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...
that featured a brace by Andrew Wiedeman
Andrew Wiedeman
Andrew Wiedeman is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
and handed the Quakes their first home loss in almost 2 years. However, after this promising start, the rest of the year was one of frustrating inconsistency, in which a dominant win (2-0 over Southern California Seahorses
Southern California Seahorses
Southern California Seahorses is an American soccer team based in La Mirada, California, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home...
), would be followed by a disappointing loss or a tie. The Frogs did make a finale late push for the playoffs, winning three of their last five games, including a 4-1 over Lancaster Rattlers
Lancaster Rattlers
Lancaster Rattlers is an American soccer team based in Lancaster, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division.The team plays its home games...
and a dominant 3-0 away victory over San Francisco Seals on the final day of the season, but in the end it was not enough; they finished the season comfortably mid-table in 5th position. Andrew Wiedeman
Andrew Wiedeman
Andrew Wiedeman is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
was the Frogs' top goal scorer with 6 for the season, and also contributed a team-best 3 assists.
In August 2008, the Frogs organization announced that the franchise was closing down, citing a "lack of community interest in top amateur soccer" for the team's demise. The team's attendance dropped significantly in their final season to a mere 20 paid tickets a game.
Final squad
vs. San Francisco Seals, 20 July 2008Notable former players
Steven BeitashourSteven Beitashour
Steven Beitashour is an Iranian American soccer player who currently plays for the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
Stefan Frei
Stefan Frei
Stefan Frei is a Swiss footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
Peter Lowry
Peter Lowry
Peter Lowry is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-College and amateur:Lowry grew up in Fair Oaks, California. He played club soccer for Irvine Strikers under head coach Don Ebert...
Matt Marquess
Matt Marquess
Matt Marquess is an American retired soccer player.-College and Amateur:Marquess grew up in Palo Alto, California, played college soccer for UC Santa Cruz and Santa Clara University, and in the USL Premier Development League for San Jose Frogs-Professional:Marquess was drafted in the third round ...
Brandon McDonald
Brandon McDonald (soccer)
Brandon McDonald is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-Amateur and College:...
Luke Sassano
Luke Sassano
Luke Sassano is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer. Sassano has played at various positions including as a holding midfielder, right back and central defender.-Youth and College:Sassano began his career at Lamorinda Soccer Club...
Adam Sloustcher Adam Smarte
Adam Smarte
Adam Smarte is an Liberian soccer player who currently plays for Ventura County Fusion in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
Rob Valentino
Rob Valentino
Rob Valentino is an American soccer player who currently plays for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
Stephen Wondolowski
Stephen Wondolowski
Stephen Wondolowski is an American soccer defender.-High school:He played high school soccer at De La Salle High School in Concord, California, where he helped his team earn a North Coast section title in 2003...
Andrew Wiedeman
Andrew Wiedeman
Andrew Wiedeman is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd, Northwest | Divisional Final | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Southwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Southwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Head coaches
Franco Benevento (2006) Peter Weiss (2007) Jorge EspinozaJorge Espinoza
Jorge Espinoza is a retired professional soccer player from Chile who played in the Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He also coached at the high school, collegiate and professional levels including two games with the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer in...
(2008) Aaron Castro (2008)
Stadia
- PAL StadiumPAL StadiumPolice Athletic League Stadium is a stadium located in San Jose, California owned by the SJ division of the Police Athletic League, the stadium seats 5,000. It was formerly the home to the USL Premier Development League minor league soccer club San Jose Frogs....
; San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
(2006–2007) - James Lick Memorial Stadium; San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
(2008)