Jim Curtin

Jim Curtin
Personal information
Date of birthJune 23, 1979
Place of birthOreland, Pennsylvania, United States
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing positionDefender
Youth career
1997–2000Villanova Wildcats
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2001–2008Chicago Fire151(4)
2001Milwaukee Rampage (loan)3(0)
2008–2009Chivas USA21(1)
Total175(5)
Teams managed
2013–2014Philadelphia Union (assistant)
2014–Philadelphia Union
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Jim Curtin (born June 23, 1979 in Oreland, Pennsylvania) is a retired American soccer player and currently the head coach for the Philadelphia Union. Curtin spent most of his playing career for the Chicago Fire.

Career

College

Curtin played college soccer at Villanova University. Curtin excelled at Villanova, being named the Big East Rookie of the Year his freshman year, and taking home first-team All-Big East selections his junior and senior seasons.

Professional

Following graduation, Curtin became the first Wildcat to be drafted by the MLS when he was selected by the Chicago Fire. Perceptions that Curtin was not athletic enough to play professionally, and the relative obscurity of Villanova, led to Curtin not being drafted until the third round of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. He would go on to play in more than 200 games for the Fire, which included U.S. Open Cup championships in 2003 and 2006. He was a 2004 MLS All-Star and the March of Dimes/Comcast Athlete of the Year in 2005. In 2001, the Fire sent Curtin on loan to the Milwaukee Rampage in three early-season games and for the USL A-League playoffs. In his rookie year Curtin saw spot duty, starting 12 games and playing a total of 1194 minutes. In his second year, Curtin secured a starting spot on the team, starting 22 games and playing 2121 minutes. Curtin started every single game for the Fire in 2003, playing alongside Carlos Bocanegra and helped the team's defense compensate for Bocanegra's loss in 2004. On January 22, 2008, he was traded to Chivas USA for a conditional pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.[1] Curtin was waived by Chivas USA on January 26, 2010.[2]

Coaching career

On November 29, 2012, Curtin was named assistant coach for his hometown Philadelphia Union.[3]

On November 7, 2014, the Philadelphia Union announced that, after a successful season, Curtin would take the reigns as the head coach[4] — removing the "interim" title he had held previously.

Personal

Curtin and his wife Jen have a daughter, Ryan (born February 6, 2008).

See also

References

External links