Tom Fitzgerald (soccer), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Tom Fitzgerald (soccer)

American soccer player-coach

Date of Birth: 14-Mar-1951

Place of Birth: Lake Luzerne, New York, United States

Date of Death: 04-Dec-2004

Profession: association football manager, association football player

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Pisces


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About Tom Fitzgerald (soccer)

  • Tom Fitzgerald (March 14, 1951 – December 4, 2004) was an American soccer coach. Fitzgerald played soccer at Hudson Valley Community College before transferring to the University of South Florida his junior season.
  • He played soccer at USF and he graduated in 1974.
  • In 1978, Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida hired Fitzgerald as the school's head coach.
  • From 1978 to 1981, he led the team to two district championships and a 35–11–6 record. He was hired by the University of Tampa as an assistant coach in 1981 and became the team's head coach in 1987.
  • He led the team to five Sunshine State Conference championships and the 1994 NCAA Men's Division II Soccer Championship over Oakland University.
  • During Fitzgerald's nine years as head coach, he compiled a 132–32–11 (75% winning percentage) record. In 1996, the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer hired Fitzgerald as an assistant coach.
  • When the Crew head coach Timo Liekoski resigned after a 6–16 start to the season, the team promoted Fitzgerald to head coach.
  • He led the team to a 9–1 record over the last 10 games of the season.
  • In 1998, he took the Crew to the U.S.
  • Open Cup where they lost to the Chicago Fire.
  • When he was fired six games into the 2001 season, Fitzgerald had posted a 70–67–7 record.In March 2002, Fitzgerald returned to the college ranks, this time with the Division I UCLA Bruins.
  • In his first season at UCLA, Fitzgerald led the team to an NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship.
  • He became the first NCAA Division I coach to win a title in his first year with a program.
  • He was also just the third coach to win both Division I and II NCAA titles.
  • He was named the 2002 NSCAA/adidas National Coach of the Year. In 2004, Fitzgerald left UCLA to rejoin the University of Tampa where he began the season 6–9–1.
  • Tom's main motivation for moving back to Tampa was to be closer to his family.
  • On December 4, 2004, Fitzgerald was driving his motorcycle to scout players at a youth soccer festival in Bradenton, Florida when he was struck by an SUV.
  • Fitzgerald initially seemed to be all right, calling his wife after the accident.
  • He was taken to Tampa General Hospital, but hemorrhaging occurred and Fitzgerald died during surgery to repair his torn aorta.
  • A memorial stone for Fitzgerald was unveiled at Columbus Crew Stadium on April 2, 2005.

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