Mike Jeffries (soccer)

Mike Jeffries
Personal information
Full name	Michael Jeffries
Date of birth	May 20, 1962 (age 61)
Place of birth	Lynn, Massachusetts, United States
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Charlotte Independence (head coach/GM)
College career
Years	Team
1980–1983	Duke Blue Devils
Senior career*
Years	Team
1984	Minnesota Strikers
1984–1987	Minnesota Strikers (indoor)
1988	Dallas Sidekicks (indoor)
1993–1997	New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers
International career
1984–1985	United States
Managerial career
1993–1994	New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (assistant)
1995–1998	New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers
1998–2000	Chicago Fire (assistant)
2001–2003	Dallas Burn
2004	Southern Methodist University (assistant)
2005	University of the Incarnate Word
2006–2007	Duke University (assistant)
2008–2010	Chicago Fire (assistant)
2013–2014	Des Moines Menace
2015–2018	Charlotte Independence
2019–	Charlotte Independence
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Jeffries (born May 20, 1962) is an

caps with the U.S. national team

.

first-team All-American and the 1983 Hermann Trophy winner as the outstanding collegiate player of the year. Jeffries was a double major at Duke, earning a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and public policy. He later earned a master's degree from Tulane University

.

Professional

After his graduation, Jeffries played one season with the 1984

USISL

.

National team

Jeffries played his first game with the U.S. national team in a scoreless tie with Ecuador on November 30, 1984. He played again, this time in a 2–0 loss to Canada on April 2, 1985. His last game with the national team came two days later in a 1–1 tie with Canada.

Post-playing career

After retiring, Jeffries became a financial consultant with

Smith Barney

in New Orleans. After three years, he decided to return to soccer and founded the Lafreniere Select Soccer Program.

Coaching

In 1995, Jeffries was elevated from assistant to head coach of the

USISL

. In his four seasons with the Gamblers, Jeffries compiled a 42–34 record.

In 1998, the expansion

Dallas Burn

announced the hiring of Jeffries as the team's new head coach on January 23, 2001. He lasted two seasons before being fired on September 15, 2003, having compiled a 23–36–16 record (4–16–4 record in 2003) with the Burn.

After being fired by the Burn, Jeffries remained in Dallas and served as a volunteer coach with

San Antonio, Texas.^[1]

In his first and only season he led the Crusaders to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and a final ranking of 23rd in the nation. He was also named Heartland Conference Coach of the Year. In 2006, Jeffries came back to Duke as the men's soccer team Associate Head Coach. After Duke head coach John Rennie retired, he was not given the place as his successor at Duke and left his alma mater to return to the staff for the Fire as an assistant.

After leaving the Fire staff to serve as a scout for former boss

USL Premier Development League club.^[2]

Jeffries was hired as head coach for the

USL Pro expansion club Charlotte Independence on December 5, 2014.^[3]

Jeffries first stint as the Independence head coach lasted from December 5, 2014 to December 6, 2018. In 2018, Jeffries was promoted to general manager for the Independence, and coach Jim McGuiness was named head coach. Coach McGuiness's stint as head coach was short lived, as he only lasted 15 games, achieving 1 win, 8 losses, and 6 draws in that span. On June 12, 2019, Jeffries resumed his duties as head coach for the Charlotte Independence, while remaining as the team's general manager.