John Kerr (soccer)

Football player infobox| playername= John Kerr, Jr.
fullname = John Kerr, Jr.
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1965|3|6
cityofbirth = Toronto
countryofbirth = Canada
height = height|ft=5|in=9
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Midfield
youthyears = 1988-91
youthclubs = Duke
years = 1987-1988
1987-1988
1988
1988-1990
1989-1990
1990-1991
1990-1991
1991-1992
1992-1994
1995
1996
1996-1997
1998-1999
clubs = Portsmouth
→ Peterborough United "(loan)"
Wycombe Wanderers
Washington Stars
Linfield
Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Hamilton Steelers
San Diego Sockers "(indoor)"
Millwall
Walsall
Dallas Burn
New England Revolution
Boston Bulldogs
caps(goals) = 06 (0)
10 (1)
12 (3)
26 (4)
nationalyears = 1990-1996
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 16 (2)
manageryears = 1998-1999
1999-2007
2007-
managerclubs = Boston Bulldogs
Harvard
Duke University
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

John Kerr, Jr. (born March 6, 1965) is an American retired soccer midfielder who played professionally in the United States, Canada, England and Ireland. He was named the 1986 Hermann Award winner as the top collegiate player of the year. He also earned sixteen caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team.

Duke University

Kerr played collegiately at Duke University. During his four years at Duke he was a two time first-team All-America. In 1986, he was the captain of the Duke team which won the NCAA national champsionship. He won the Hermann Award as the NCAA Player of the Year as a senior. In 2004, Duke University inducted Kerr into its Sports Hall of Fame.

While at Duke he began his international career.

First American in English First Division

After graduating from Duke, Kerr became the first American player in the Football League First Division (now known as the Premiership) when he signed with Portsmouth. [Citation |last= |first= |title=Americans once again rare sight in Premier League |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8582098/Americans-once-again-rare-sight-in-Premier-League |publisher=Fox Sports |date=2008-09-19 |accessdate=2008-09-20] That year, 1987, he made 4 appearances. Later that season he was loaned out to Peterborough United of the fourth division.

Back to the United States

In 1988, Kerr returned to U.S., and played with several American teams, including the Washington Stars of the American Soccer League.

England, France, Ireland and Canada

Kerr returned to Europe with Wycombe Wanderers in the Vauxhall Conference for 1988. In 1990 he played for French Third Division side Boulogne-Sur-Mer and Irish side Linfield F.C.. Kerr then played 1991 with the Hamilton Steelers of the Canadian Soccer League.

Indoor Soccer

In 1992, won a Major Soccer League indoor soccer title with the San Diego Sockers.

Back in England

He competed for Millwall from 1992-94 and Walsall in 1995.

Major League Soccer

Kerr once again returned to the States, playin for the Dallas Burn and later the New England Revolution of MLS. He was part of the first in-season trade in MLS history when the Burn dealt him to the Revs for Zak Ibsen. He then went on to become player/coach of the Boston Bulldogs of the USL A-League. [ [http://www.kerrcamp.com/about-index.php#jkerr Kerr Camp] ]

National Team

Kerr first played for the United States men's national soccer team while in college. He soon became a regular player on the team and saw considerable playing time until 1988. From then until 1995, he failed to earn any more caps. However, that year he again played for the team. While a brief return, it was significant in that he was on the U.S. team which placed fourth at the 1995 Copa America. He finished his national team career with 16 appearances and 2 goals

Coaching

Kerr began coaching while in England and continued intermittently over the years until he finally retired from playing professionally in 1997. In 1992 and 1993, he served as an assistant coach at Duke University. In 1997, he was the junior varsity and assistant varsity coach with Wellesley High School in Wellesley, Massachusetts. [ [http://www.kerrcamp.com/about-index.php#jkerr John Kerr ~ Background & History continued] ] In 1998, he became the head coach of the Boston Bulldogs in the USISL. In 1999, he returned as head coach for the Bulldogs, now playing in the USL A-League. [ [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/other_sports/story/166772.html Kerr gets kick out of return] ] That fall, Harvard hired Kerr to coach its men's team. He coached Harvard through the 2007 fall season, finishing with a record of 81-57-13. On December 19, 2007 Kerr was named head coach of Duke University.

Kerr's father John Kerr, Sr. is a former Canadian international.

References

External links

* [http://gocrimson.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/kerr_john00.html Bio from Official Harvard Athletics Website]
* [http://www.soccer-new-england.com/John-Kerr.html John Kerr Interview with Soccer New England]
* [http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22447&SPID=1833&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=1369515&Q_SEASON=2008 Duke University Coaching Profile]