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The Dallas Burn’s 1996 draft
As the Colorado Rapids prepare to face FC Dallas in a Major League Soccer fixture for the second time in less than three weeks, The Tuesday List looks at the Dallas Burn’s draft class of 1996.
The team had one pick in each of 16 rounds of the inaugural MLS draft. The players selected have some interesting coaching accomplishments, quite a bit of international experience and some Colorado ties. They are listed here in order, first through 16th:
Ted Eck: A member of the Colorado Foxes from 1992 until 1996, when he joined the Burn. Eck also played for the indoor Denver Thunder in 1992-93 (anybod remember them?), and he played occasionally for the U.S. national team.
Tom Soehn: Traded in 1998 to Chicago, where he helped the fire to one MLS Cup and two U.S. Open Cup titles. Currently coach of D.C. United.
Lawrence Lozzano: Was coach at the youth level by Marcelo Balboa’s father. Also played for the San Jose Clash, the Galaxy and the MetroStars. One appearance for the U.S. national team.
Brian Haynes: A teammate of Eck’s with the Colorado Foxes from 1992-1994. Was an assistant coach with Dallas from 2001 to 2007 and is now the head coach of the Real Colorado Cougars of the W-League. Made 21 appearances with the national team of Trinidad and Tobago.
Jason Kreis: Scored the first goal in Burn franchise history and Real Salt Lake franchise history (first player ever to do so for two MLS franchises). All-time leader in goals for Dallas. First MLS player to score 100 goals. Fourteen caps with the U.S. national team. Currently RSL’s head coach.
Mark Dodd: Former Foxes coach Dave Dir selected another of his players; Dodd won two championships with the Foxes, was the APSL player of the year and a first-team APSL all-star. He represented the Burn in two MLS All-Star Games. Dodd was an alternate on the United States’ 1998 World Cup team. (Thanks to one of our readers, Jason, for help on this post!)
Rene Ortiz: Played two games with the Burn and was released. Has coached at the high school level in California and is the coach of the Mexican national futsal team.
Gerell Elliott: Played three seasons with the Burn. Was part of Dallas’ U.S. Open Cup title team in 1997.
John Kerr Jr.: First American to play England’s Premiership (then called the First Division). Part of the first in-season trade in MLS history (sent to New England in return for Zak Ibsen).Extensive playing time for the U.S. national team in the mid-1980s. Currently head coach at Duke University, his alma mater. Father played with Pele for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.
Jim McGeough: Never signed by the Burn. Played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the APSL for two seasons in a career that lasted from 1984 to 1998. Another gratuitous opportunity to bring up the Rowdies.
Jorge Flores: Scored two goals and registered one assist for the Burn in 34 games, including 19 starts. Was a consistent starter for the U.S. at the youth level.
Richard Farrer: Played seven season with the Burn and one season at Colorado College.
Jimmy Glenn: Played nine games for the Burn and was released. Was a member of the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 1999, when they beat the Colorado Rapids in the final of the U.S. Open Cup. It was the only time a USL team beat an MLS team for the championship.
Steve Keller: Never played in MLS. Played for the Chicago Stingers in the U.S. Open Cup.
Ed Puskarich: Played 18 games with the Burn.
Gabriel Gentile: Did not play in MLS.
Well…Dave Dir was the coach of the Colorado Foxes before he was hired by the MLS and the Dallas Burn before the draft.
good stuff!
good point, jason!
Good article George.
I love taking a look back like this. Amazing how much time has flown by.
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