Mark Dougherty

Dougherty grew up in San Jose, California and Cupertino, California. He began playing youth soccer in the Police Athletic League.{{cite journal|title=On the Spot|journal=Soccer Now|date=Summer 1996|volume=XIX|issue=3|pages=14–18}} After playing recreational-level soccer, he was recruited to play for his local club by coach Ken Campbell, South Valley United, where he remained from age 9–19, traveling around the nation and Canada for tournaments.{{cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Bill|title=Playing in goal always the goal for Dougherty; Mutiny goalkeeper developed a passion for the position early|work=The Tampa Tribune|date=May 14, 1996|page=Sports-1, 6}} Dougherty was competing year-round by the time he reached high school. He attended Santa Teresa High School and Monta Vista High School where he joined the boys' soccer team. Dougherty made the varsity team as a freshman, and helped his team to a conference title.{{cite web|last1=Sirk |first1=Steve |title=Mark Dougherty: The Story Of A Veteran American Goalkeeper |url=http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/spot0000dougherty1.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001022085320/http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/spot0000dougherty1.html |archivedate=October 22, 2000 }}

After starting four years in high school and repeatedly reaching the state playoffs, he was offered a scholarship to Fresno State University by then-assistant coach John Bluem. He red-shirted his freshman year, then started four consecutive years. His first year playing on the men's soccer team, in 1986, he led the Bulldogs to win the Pacific Coast Athletic Association championship and to the NCAA Final Four. That year, they set a record for the most wins for Fresno State with 18 and Dougherty set the record for fewest goals allowed (10).{{cite web|title=Fresno State Men's Soccer Records|url=http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/091701aae.html|website=Fresno State Athletics}} Dougherty was team captain his junior and senior seasons, in 1988 and 1989, and led the team to win back to back Big West Conference Championships. He was also named Player of the Week for October 11, 1988. In 1989, the team set records for fewest losses, (3) most penalty kicks made, (7) and longest unbeaten streak, with 17 wins and a 14-0-3 record.

During his college career, he was a four-year letterman, named a four time all-Far West selection, selected to the Second Team, All-Big West in 1987, and First Team 1988 and 1989.{{cite web|title=Big West Conference Men's Soccer Records|url=http://www.bigwest.org/sports/msoccer/info/record.pdf|accessdate=30 December 2015}}{{cite web|title=Men's Soccer Honors|url=http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/091701aab.html|website=Fresno State Sports|access-date=2016-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528181341/http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/091701aab.html|archive-date=2012-05-28|url-status=dead}} He ended his college career, in 1989, with 0.76 goals against average. Dougherty still holds the Big West Conference record for career shutouts, with thirty-eight between 1986 and 1989.{{cite web|title=Big West Men's Soccer 2015 Standings|url=http://www.bigwest.org/sports/msoccer/release.pdf|publisher=Big West Conference|date=December 22, 2015}} Dougherty continued to attend classes, after being signed to play professionally, finally graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in finance from Fresno State.

After exhausting his NCAA eligibility in 1989, Dougherty signed with the expansion San Francisco Bay Blackhawks, which were in the Western Soccer League (WSL). Between 1989 and 1991, the Blackhawks played in three championships in a row. The team came in second in the WSL championship game in 1989. Then, in 1990, the WSL merged with the American Soccer League to form the American Professional Soccer League (APSL). The Blackhawks again went to the championship game, but came up short a second time. In 1991, Dougherty led the league with a .81 goals against average per game as the Blackhawks won the title. Dougherty made two saves during the shootout and was named the championship MVP and a first team All Star. He was ranked 1st among APSL goalkeepers with 7 shut outs and 0.58 goals against average, and was 3–1 in penalty kicks.{{cite news|last1=Valdez|first1=Alex|title=Dougherty makes a name for himself; Blackhawks' goalie is even impressing his coach these days|work=The Tri-Valley Herald|date=August 9, 1991|page=D-3}}{{cite web|last1=Litterer|first1=David|title=The Year in American Soccer, 1991|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1991.html|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228222655/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1991.html|archive-date=2014-12-28|url-status=dead}} Even so, he finished second in voting for league MVP. The last of those championships, the 1991 APSL title, qualified the Blackhawks for a place in the 1992 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. As the Blackhawks were the United States' top professional club, in 1992 they traveled to Mexico City to face Club América in a home-and-away series at the most fearsome venue in North American soccer: Estadio Azteca.{{cite web|last1=Froh|first1=Tim|title=Blackhawks up: The story of the American team that nearly knocked off Club América at Azteca|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/04/21/blackhawks-story-american-team-nearly-knocked-club-am-rica-azteca}} With questionable refereeing that caused the Blackhawks to believe that there was a conspiracy to keep them out of the final, they were narrowly defeated. In 1993, the team owner moved the Blackhawks from the APSL to the USISL and renamed the team the San Jose Hawks. The Hawks took their division with a 14–2 record, making the Sizzlin’ Six tournament before folding at the end of the season.{{cite web|last1=Jonas|first1=Robert|title=40 in 40: Remembering the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks|url=http://www.sjearthquakes.com/post/2014/04/04/40-40-remembering-san-francisco-bay-blackhawks|publisher=San Jose Quakes}}

In 1994, Dougherty joined the North Bay Breakers as a player-coach.{{cite web|title=Transcript: Direct Examination of Mark C. Dougherty, 9/28/2000|url=http://www.kenn.com/mlscase/20000928_dougherty.html}}

In 1995, Dougherty was with the Hawaii Tsunami (USISL) as both a player and assistant coach. The Tsunami went 18–2, leading the USISL in both goals scored and goals against. Hawaii was also a perfect 10–0 at home. The Tsunami also won the Northwest Division championship and a berth in the Sizzlin' Nine championships.{{cite book|title=1996 Media Guide|publisher=Tampa Bay Mutiny|page=27}}

In February 1996, Dougherty expected to be selected in the first round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft by coach Laurie Calloway of the San Jose Clash, eighth overall. Calloway had coached Dougherty previously, when he played for the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks. Instead, the Tampa Bay Mutiny selected Dougherty seventh overall. Dougherty was the first goalkeeper to be drafted.{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Grahame|title=McBride Is Chosen First in No-Name Soccer Draft|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-07-sp-33227-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=7 February 1996}} He went 17–11 with a 1.68 goals against average, the fourth best in the league, and had three shutouts. He was named to the 1996 all-star team and he led the Mutiny to the league's best record (20–12). In the playoffs, he went 2–1 against the Columbus Crew, before losing the first game to D.C. United in the conference finals. He did not play in the second game, and the Mutiny were defeated by D.C.

The next year, in 1997, Dougherty went 15–9 with a 1.89 goals against average and three shutouts. He racked up enough victories (17) to place Tampa second in the east, only to be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Crew. After two very successful seasons with the Mutiny in 1996 and 1997, in which Dougherty posted two six-game winning streaks and compiled the most victories in MLS' brief history, he was placed on waivers when the Mutiny acquired Swedish World Cup hero Thomas Ravelli.

Dougherty was acquired by the Columbus Crew following the 1997 season in the waiver draft. Soon after, the Crew were allocated national team goalkeeper Juergen Sommer. Despite Sommer claiming the starter's role, Dougherty played when he was at the World Cup. Noted as "one of the most astounding goalkeeping displays in the history of the Crew," Dougherty made several stunning first-half saves in a home game against San Jose. In 1999, Sommer suffered a severe knee injury. As a result, for the inaugural season at Columbus Crew stadium, Dougherty was starting goalkeeper. That year, Dougherty became the first goalkeeper in league history to record 50 wins, with a 4–2 win over the MetroStars on August 18, 1999, at Giants Stadium.{{cite book|title=2002 Media Guide|publisher=Columbus Crew|page=14}} He led the Crew in minutes played, playing 90 minutes in all but one of 31 appearances, and still had the lowest goals against average in the Eastern Conference, along with a career high of 18 wins.{{cite book|title=2000 Media Guide|publisher=Columbus Crew|page=51}} The team set a record for fewest goals allowed in a season with just 39 goals allowed, and five shutouts.{{cite book|title=1999 Post-Season Media Guide|publisher=Columbus Crew|page=6}} He was recognized for his play during the 1999 season as the Crew's Most Valuable Player, and BIC Defender of the Year, and also received the Huntington Bank "Man of the Year" award from the team for his community service.

Dougherty entered the 2000 season as MLS' all-time wins leader with 54 career victories, and third among all MLS keepers in career saves with 495. He led the Crew to second place in the Eastern Conference, with a 0.67 goals against average. He finished the regular season fifth in the league.{{cite web|last1=Sirk |first1=Steve |title=Mark Dougherty: The Story Of A Veteran American Goalkeeper |url=http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/spot0000dougherty2.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001022101600/http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/spot0000dougherty2.html |archivedate=October 22, 2000 }} He was second in wins (18), second in minutes (2745), fourth in saves (106), fourth in the infamous catches/punches (104), fifth in shutouts (6) and sixth in saves-to-goals ratio (3.03).{{cite news|last1=Merz|first1=Craig|title=Dougherty Confident He's a Keeper|work=The Columbus Dispatch|date=March 24, 2000|page=7}} In 2000, he started 25 matches, posting a 10-12-3 record with three shutouts against New York/ New Jersey, Kansas City, and Miami.{{cite book|title=2001 Media Guide|publisher=The Columbus Crew|page=54}} His season high was 11 saves in a 4–2 win against Miami on May 27, 2000, including 7 saves in the second half.

By 2001, Dougherty had 121 career appearances, 119 starts, and was still leading the league with 64 career victories. He was second in the league with 500 career saves, and had 16 career shutouts. He played only two games in 2001 after suffering a knee injury. He retired from playing at the end of the season.{{cite news|last1=Chapin|first1=Dwight|title=Almost a perfect season; All-Star year will lose some luster if "Hawks fail to win title|work=San Francisco Examiner|date=September 26, 1991|page=C-2}}{{cite news|title=PLUS: SOCCER; Late Goal Wins For Real Madrid|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/20/sports/plus-soccer-late-goal-wins-for-real-madrid.html|work=New York Times|date=20 February 2002}}

In 1991, Dougherty coached the Fresno State University's Women's Soccer Team. In 1992, he coached the Mission College's Men's Soccer Team. From 1993 to 1994, he was an assistant coach for Sonoma State University's Men's Soccer Team and the goalkeeper coach for both the men's and women's teams. In 1994, he was a player-coach for the North Bay Breakers. In 1995, was a player-coach for the Hawaii Tsunami, and he also coached the Santa Rosa Junior College Women's Soccer Team to the state championship where they lost to Mt. San Antonio.{{cite news|last1=Leef|first1=Ralph|title=San Jose? No, Tampa Bay|work=The Press Democrat|date=February 14, 1996|location=Santa Rosa, California|page=C-1, 6}}{{cite web|title=CCCAA Soccer Champions|url=http://www.ccsoccernews.com/Playoffs/Past+Champions/}}

Dougherty took a hiatus from coaching while he played professionally until 2002, when Bowling Green State University hired Dougherty as an assistant soccer coach.{{cite news|title=Scoreboard|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=20020305&id=0XMhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2131,1347433&hl=en|work=The Daily Gazette|date=March 5, 2002|page=C3}} He then moved to the Colorado Rapids where he was an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach until 2005.{{cite web|title=Rapids finalize 2003 Coaching Staff with the addition of Original Captain Steve Trittschuh|url=http://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2010/06/28/coaches-2003|date=January 30, 2003}} He was also the director of the Colorado Rush's youth academy during that time, and coached the girls' U-12 team and U-18 teams to Colorado State Cup championships in 2004 and 2005, respectively.{{cite web|title=Colorado Rush Championship Records|url=http://www.coloradorush.com/index.php/9-local-sponsors/15-general/755-national-champions}} The Colorado Rush club won state championships in the 2002, 2003, and 2004 seasons.{{cite web|title=Arizona Soccer Program Signs Six to Letters-of-Intent|url=http://www.arizonawildcats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30700&ATCLID=207953153}} Dougherty then became the goalkeeper coach with the U.S. women's national team.{{cite web|title=U.S. Soccer to Host Coaching Symposium in Conjunction With U.S. Women's National Team Match vs. China on Aug. 27|url=http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/news/story/?ArticleId=227711|date=August 17, 2006}}{{cite web|title=Colorado Rush Names New Director of Goalkeeping|url=http://www.coloradorush.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=413:alumni-continuation-continues|date=August 21, 2006}}{{cite web|title=USA Women's Soccer Headshots|url=http://isiphotos.photoshelter.com/gallery/USA-Women-Headshots/G0000JqOi2tyx1ng/2/C0000hY53J3hyU6s}}

After taking a few years off from coaching, Dougherty coached his son and 9 other boys during the fall 2008 soccer season. The Colorado Rush "Crush" U-10 recorded 9 wins and lost only once, eventually winning the Gold A1 bracket.

Dougherty is the director of the soccer program at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center in Coral Gables, Florida. {{Cite web|url=https://communitynewspapers.com/coral-gables-news/coach-mark-dougherty-is-all-about-the-love-of-the-sport-and-community/|title=Coach Dougherty is All About the Love of the Sport – and Community|last=Kress|first=William|date=July 7, 2024|website=Miami's Community News}} {{Cite web|url=https://communitynewspapers.com/coral-gables-news/coral-gables-youth-soccer-scores-with-new-leadership/|title=Coral Gables Youth Soccer scores with new leadership|last=Kress|first=William|date=July 27, 2024|website=Miami's Community News}} {{Cite web|url=https://communitynewspapers.com/coral-gables-news/coral-gables-young-stars-shine-bright-in-youth-soccer-celebration/|title=Coral Gables’ Young Stars Shine Bright in Youth Soccer Celebration|last=Kress|first=William|date=December 17, 2024|website=Miami's Community News}}

• F.I.U. Homecoming Soccer Classic Outstanding Defensive Player: 1987
• Fresno State University Chris Johnson Memorial Award for Most Inspirational Player: 1988
• Adidas-Ethel M Soccer Classic MVP: 1989
• Fresno State University Captains Award: 1989
• Fresno State University Coaches Award: 1989
• Soccer Magic Player of the Year: 1991{{cite journal|last1=Arellano|first1=Nicholas|title=Mark Dougherty, Player of the Year|journal=Soccer Magic|date=October 25, 1991|volume=IV|issue=I|page=10}}
• APSL All Star First Team: 1991
• MVP of APSL Championship Series: 1991
• MLS All-Star Eastern Conference: 1996{{cite news|last1=Landman|first1=Brian|title=Dougherty wins by talking talk|work=St. Petersburg Times|date=July 14, 1996|page=9C}}
• Columbus Crew Most Valuable Player: 1999 {{cite web|title=Columbus Crew 1999|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/club/columbus/1999|website=MLS History|accessdate=30 December 2015}}
• Huntington Bank "Man of the Year": 1999
• BIC Defender of the Year: 1999

{{Reflist}}

• {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001022085320/http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/spot0000dougherty1.html |date=20001022 |title=Mark Dougherty: The Story Of A Veteran American Goalkeeper, part 1 }}
• {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001022101600/http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/spot0000dougherty2.html |date=20001022 |title=Mark Dougherty: The Story Of A Veteran American Goalkeeper, part 2 }}
• [https://www.patreon.com/posts/17719869/ Mark Dougherty, Columbus, and the Crew]
• {{MLS player|mark-dougherty}}
• [http://people.umass.edu/~litterer/mls/mls-bios1.html 1996 MLS Player Bios]
• [http://www.proactivegk.com/ Personal Page]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dougherty, Mark}}

Category:Living people

Category:1967 births

Category:American men's soccer players

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:Major League Soccer players

Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars

Category:USISL players

Category:American Professional Soccer League players

Category:Fresno State Bulldogs men's soccer players

Category:San Francisco Bay Blackhawks players

Category:San Jose Hawks players

Category:Western Soccer Alliance players

Category:Hawaii Tsunami players

Category:Tampa Bay Mutiny players

Category:Columbus Crew players

Category:American soccer coaches

Category:USISL coaches

Category:United States women's national soccer team non-playing staff

Category:20th-century American sportsmen