View source for Seattle SeaDogs

{{good article}}
{{Short description|Defunct American indoor soccer team}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football club 
|clubname = Seattle SeaDogs
|image = Seattle SeaDogs logo.jpg
|fullname = Seattle SeaDogs
|nickname = 
|founded = 1993
|dissolved = 1997
|stadium = [[Mercer Arena|Seattle Center Arena]]<br />[[KeyArena]]<br />[[Seattle]], Washington
|capacity = 4,055 (Seattle Center)<br />14,545 (KeyArena)
|chairman = 
|manager = [[Fernando Clavijo]] (1994–1997)
|league = [[Continental Indoor Soccer League]]
|season = [[1997 Continental Indoor Soccer League season|1997]]
|position = League: 1st<br />Playoffs: Champions
|American = yes
}}

The '''Seattle SeaDogs''' were an [[indoor soccer]] team based in [[Seattle]], Washington, United States. They played in the [[Continental Indoor Soccer League]] (CISL) from 1995 to 1997 with home games at [[Mercer Arena]] and [[KeyArena]]. The team were owned by the [[Ackerley Group]], who also operated the [[Seattle SuperSonics]], and were announced in 1993 amid a wave of new professional soccer teams in the [[Seattle metropolitan area]].

The SeaDogs, coached by [[Fernando Clavijo]], had poor attendance during the first two seasons and failed to reach the playoffs, finishing in 1996 as the worst team in the CISL. The team then amassed the best regular season record in the league during the 1997 season and went undefeated during the playoffs to win their first CISL Championship. The league folded at the end of the season and the SeaDogs were dissolved.

==History==

===First seasons===

On November 16, 1993, the [[Continental Indoor Soccer League]] (CISL) awarded an expansion franchise to the [[Ackerley Group]], owner of the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] of the [[National Basketball Association]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Peoples |first=John |date=November 17, 1993 |title=Sonics stake out turf with soccer franchise |page=C1 |work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> The region previously had other indoor teams, including the [[Tacoma Stars (1983–1992)|Tacoma Stars]] of the defunct [[Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)|Major Indoor Soccer League]]; a CISL bid for a Tacoma team had failed to garner support.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawrence |first=John |date=January 9, 1993 |title=No soccer in Tacoma for 1993 |page=E1 |work=[[The News Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115620414/no-soccer-in-tacoma-for-1993/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref> The team's name, the SeaDogs, was announced in November 1994 alongside the unveiling of head coach [[Fernando Clavijo]], a member of the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]] who played in the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Lenny |date=November 16, 1994 |title=SeaDogs unveil selves, coach for '95 debut |page=C3 |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]}}</ref> The team's mascot, a purple dog named "Salty", was named in a later fan contest.<ref name="Times-Bite">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=June 24, 1996 |title=SeaDogs add more bite |page=F5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The SeaDogs were among several professional soccer teams in the Seattle area that had begun to play in the mid-1990s, including the outdoor [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]] and [[Everett BigFoot]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Knight |first=Bill |date=February 7, 1995 |title=Soccer storms Seattle area |page=D1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

The SeaDogs held an open scrimmage prior to the regular season at their temporary home, [[Mercer Arena|Seattle Center Arena]], that drew 98 spectators.<ref name="Times-Scrimmage">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=June 5, 1995 |title=Few attend scrimmage for SeaDogs |page=D6 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The team made their debut on June 23, 1995, where they defeated the [[San Jose Grizzlies]] 6–5 in sudden-death overtime in front of 3,529 spectators in Seattle.<ref name="PI-Debut">{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Lenny |date=June 24, 1995 |title=SeaDogs win debut on Collins' OT goal |page=C4 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> They had poor attendance, with an average crowd of under 2,000 by early August, blamed in part due to competition from other professional soccer teams in the area.<ref name="PI-Struggle">{{cite news |last=Spencer |first=Sheldon |date=August 15, 1995 |title=Fans wanted: Sounders, SeaDogs struggle in sharing the Seattle market |page=D1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The SeaDogs finished their inaugural season with a 12–16 record and missed the playoffs; during the offseason, they lost top scorer [[Jean Harbor]] to the [[Colorado Rapids]] and key forward [[Michael Collins (soccer)|Michael Collins]] to the [[Sacramento Knights]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=June 14, 1996 |title=SeaDog preview: Questions loom over firepower |page=C9 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19960614&slug=2334455 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref> Harbor later returned to the team on loan from the Rapids.<ref name="PI-1997Prev">{{cite news |last=Brandon |first=Rachel |date=June 13, 1997 |title=SeaDogs brimming with familiarity |page=E2 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

The team moved to [[KeyArena]] for the 1996 season and had an average attendance of 3,812—ninth of eleven teams in the CISL and 26 percent of the arena's capacity.<ref name="PI-Glut">{{cite news |last=Bruscas |first=Angelo |date=October 29, 1996 |title=Tight at the top: Glut of pro teams makes it difficult to win at box office |page=D1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The SeaDogs and Sounders, who played at nearby [[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]], had scheduled overlapping games on several nights that affected attendance figures for both teams.<ref name="PI-Struggle"/> The SeaDogs finished last in the Western Division with a 10–18 record and a league-low 143 goals scored, but the team earned a franchise-record 11–5 victory against the [[Detroit Neon]] in their final match of the season.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 30, 1996 |title=SeaDogs wrap up season with win |page=C3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> New signing [[Juan de la O]] won the CISL Goalkeeper of the Year Award for his performances, which included a league-low 148 goals allowed.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 10, 1996 |title=De La O named CISL's top goalkeeper |page=D5 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> Seattle made several acquisitions late in the season and into the offseason, including [[John Olu-Molomo]] in a trade from the [[San Diego Sockers (1978–1996)|San Diego Sockers]] and ex-Sounders players [[Billy Crook (American soccer)|Bill Crook]] and [[Dick McCormick]].<ref name="PI-1997Prev"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=June 14, 1997 |title=High hopes for SeaDogs |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970614&slug=2544531 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref>

===Championship and folding===

The SeaDogs began their 1997 season with a franchise-best seven consecutive wins, including five road games to open the year; Harbor led the team in scoring, followed by Olu-Molomo prior to an injury to his right shoulder.<ref>{{cite news |last=Langdon |first=Jerry |date=July 10, 1997 |title=SeaDogs open season with 6-0 run |page=14C |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Swesey |first=Ben |date=July 13, 1997 |title=Drago lifts Knights again |page=C2 |work=[[The Sacramento Bee]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115623116/drago-lifts-knights-again/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref> They then lost several matches and dropped from the top of the Western Division standings but regained first place in late August with a 14–5 record.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 22, 1997 |title=Seattle is top dog again in CISL |page=C5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The SeaDogs finished the regular season with 21 wins and 7 losses—the best record in the league—and set several team records. They also drew an average of 2,769 spectators at KeyArena.<ref name="Times-Chance">{{cite news |last=Guadagnoli |first=Tony |date=October 22, 1997 |title='Slim chance' that SeaDogs won't return in '98 |page=C5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

The team were seeded in the Western semifinals against the fourth-place [[Portland Pride]], who hosted the first leg and held to a 2–2 draw at halftime; the SeaDogs scored six goals in the second half to win 8–2.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nolen |first=John |date=October 4, 1997 |title=Seattle crushes Pride 8-2 |page=C2 |work=[[The Oregonian]]}}</ref> Seattle completed a two-game sweep of Portland with a 6–5 victory at KeyArena with two last-minute goals to avoid a deciding mini-game round.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brandon |first=Rachel |date=October 6, 1997 |title=SeaDogs beat Portland, win series |page=D3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The SeaDogs then opened the Western Final against the Sacramento Knights with a 6–2 away victory and played the following night at KeyArena.<ref>{{cite news |last=Swesey |first=Ben |date=October 12, 1997 |title=On the brink |page=C7 |work=The Sacramento Bee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115624375/on-the-brink-knights-lose-to-seadogs/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref> The Knights had a 2–0 lead at halftime, but four goals from the hosts gave Seattle a 4–3 victory and a berth in the CISL Championship against the [[Houston Hotshots]], the 1996 runners-up.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brandon |first=Rachel |date=October 13, 1997 |title=SeaDogs reach CISL finals with second-round sweep |page=D3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref><ref name="PI-FinalL1">{{cite news |last=Wade |first=Susan |date=October 19, 1997 |title=SeaDogs edge Hotshots 6-5 in overtime |page=C3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

The SeaDogs conceded four goals in the first two quarters of the championship's first game at KeyArena, played in front of 6,530, but rallied with three goals before halftime.<ref name="PI-FinalL1"/> An additional two goals from the hosts forced a sudden death overtime period, during which Olu-Molomo scored within two minutes to win the game 6–5 for Seattle.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rice |first=Micah |date=October 19, 1997 |title=SeaDogs rally, win thriller |page=C3 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115624813/seadogs-rally-win-thriller/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref> The SeaDogs clinched their first CISL Championship with a 7–1 win at [[The Summit (Houston)|The Summit]] in Houston the following night with two goals from McCormick.<ref name="Houston">{{cite news |last=Duarte |first=Joseph |date=October 20, 1997 |title=SeaDogs sweep past Hotshots |page=1 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> The title finished a "worst-to-first" turnaround for the SeaDogs, who had the league's worst record in 1996 and were undefeated in the playoffs—a league first.<ref name="Houston"/><ref name="Times-Finals">{{cite news |last=Guadagnoli |first=Tony |date=October 18, 1997 |title=CISL Finals: Season of sacrifice ending in rewards |page=B5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Juan de la O was named the championship's [[most valuable player]], having made 15 saves in the second game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baroni |first=Marc |date=October 20, 1997 |title=SeaDogs scorch Hotshots to win indoor league title |page=E3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

The CISL folded following the departure of several teams at the end of the 1997 season; Seattle was one of three teams to commit to returning in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last=Almond |first=Elliott |date=December 24, 1997 |title=With CISL dead, SeaDogs weigh their options to keep kicking |page=C1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19971224&slug=2579861 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=September 24, 1997 |title=SeaDogs in limbo without a league |page=E4 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> Several teams moved to other indoor soccer leagues, but the SeaDogs elected to remain independent as its ownership explored various options.<ref>{{cite news |last=DeMasio |first=Nunyo |date=April 24, 1998 |title=For Ackerley, 'NBA Champions' has nice ring to it |page=A1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19980424&slug=2747026 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref> In June 1998, Clavijo accepted an offer to become head coach of the [[Florida ThunderCats]] of the [[National Professional Soccer League II|National Professional Soccer League]] (NPSL).<ref>{{cite news |date=June 9, 1998 |title=SeaDogs coach takes NPSL job |page=D7 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

==Arena==
[[File:KeyArena (2890740573).jpg|thumb|right|[[KeyArena]], the home venue of the Seattle SeaDogs from 1996 to 1997]]

The SeaDogs signed a three-year lease agreement with the Seattle city government to use two public facilities: Seattle Center Arena (now known as [[Mercer Arena]]) in 1995 and [[KeyArena]] from 1996 to 1997. Both arenas were located on the grounds of the [[Seattle Center]]; due to the ongoing redevelopment of [[Seattle Center Coliseum]], its successor KeyArena was unavailable for the opening season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bruscas |first=Angelo |date=June 15, 1995 |title=SeaDogs, city agree on lease of arenas |page=D3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> Seattle Center Arena had 4,055 seats,<ref name="PI-Debut"/> while KeyArena had a capacity of 14,545 seats.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 20, 1997 |title=1997 CISL preview |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-20-sp-5369-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref>

==Ownership and management==

Like several other teams in the CISL, the SeaDogs shared ownership with a [[National Basketball Association]] team in the same market.<ref name="Times-Scrimmage"/> The Ackerley Group, headed by media magnate [[Barry Ackerley]], owned the SeaDogs and the SuperSonics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rice |first=Micah |date=July 5, 1997 |title=SeaDogs come home on a roll |page=C2 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115625175/seadogs-come-home-on-a-roll/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tillery |first=Ronald |date=October 31, 1997 |title=Mellowing Ackerley yearns for NBA title |page=E6 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The teams were overseen by Full House Sports and Entertainment, a marketing subsidiary of the group.<ref name="PI-Glut"/> Home SeaDogs matches were broadcast on radio station [[KJR (AM)|KJR AM]], also owned by the Ackerley Group, with play-by-play commentary by John Lynch.<ref name="PI-Struggle"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Spencer |first=Sheldon |date=June 5, 1995 |title=Former U.S. soccer team coach considers parting 'right thing' |page=D2 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

[[Fernando Clavijo]] was head coach of the SeaDogs in all three of their seasons. [[Brian Schmetzer]] was an assistant coach and player; he later took over the [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]] of the [[USL First Division]] and their [[Major League Soccer]] incarnation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=November 30, 2001 |title=Schmetzer to push young, local talent |page=D7 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20011130&slug=soun30 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=November 4, 2016 |title=Five meetings that shaped newly-minted Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer's career |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/breakfast-with-the-enemy-and-four-other-meetings-that-shaped-brian-schmetzers-career/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref>

==Year-by-year==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ {{sronly|Seattle SeaDogs seasons}}
!scope="col"|Year!!Record!!Regular season!!Playoffs!!Avg. attendance
|-
! scope = "row" | 1995 
| align=center | 12–16 || 4th, Western || ''Did not qualify'' || align=center | 2,341
|-
! scope = "row" | 1996 
| align=center | 11–17 || 4th, Western || ''Did not qualify'' || align=center | 3,812
|-
! scope = "row" | 1997 
| align=center | 21–7 ||bgcolor="B3B7FF"| 1st, Western ||bgcolor="FFEBAD"| Champions || align=center | 2,769
|-
! scope = "row" | Total || 44–40 ||&nbsp;— ||&nbsp;— || 2,974
|}

==Honors==
'''CISL Championship'''
* Winners: 1997<ref name="Houston"/>

'''CISL Goalkeeper of the Year'''
* 1996 – [[Juan de la O]]<ref name="PI-Honors">{{cite news |date=October 23, 1997 |title=Honors continue for De La O |page=C6 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>
* 1997 – [[Juan de la O]]<ref name="PI-Honors"/>

'''CISL Coach of the Year'''
* 1997 – [[Fernando Clavijo]]<ref name="Times-Finals"/>

'''CISL Championship Series MVP'''
* 1997 – [[Juan de la O]]<ref name="PI-Honors"/>

'''All-CISL First Team'''
* 1997 – [[Juan de la O]] (GK), [[John Olu-Molomo]] (FW)<ref name="PI-Honors"/>

'''CISL All Star Game MVP'''
* 1997 – [[Jean Harbor]]<ref>{{cite news |date=July 30, 1997 |title=SeaDog named MVP in West win |page=D6 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

==Players==

The SeaDogs primarily used American players, including several who had played for the Sounders and the indoor [[Tacoma Stars (1983–1992)|Tacoma Stars]]. Among them were player–coach [[Brian Schmetzer]], top goalscorer [[Jean Harbor]], and forward [[John Olu-Molomo]].<ref name="PI-1997Prev"/> Goalkeeper [[Juan de la O]] was named CISL Goalkeeper of the Year in 1996 and 1997.<ref name="PI-Honors"/>

===1997 roster===
:''As of June 1997''<ref name="PI-1997Prev"/>

{{Football squad start}}
{{football squad player |no=0 |nat=MEX |pos=GK |name=[[Juan de la O]]}}
{{football squad player |no=1 |nat=USA |pos=GK |name=[[Nat Gonazlez]]}}
{{football squad player |no=2 |nat=USA |pos=DF |name=[[Todd Woodhouse]]}}
{{football squad player |no=3 |nat=USA |pos=MF |name=[[Tom Bialek]]}}
{{football squad player |no=4 |nat=USA |pos=MF |name=[[Todd Stauber]]}}
{{football squad player |no=5 |nat=USA |pos=DF |name=[[Seth Spidahl]]}}
{{football squad player |no=6 |nat=USA |pos=DF |name=[[Dave Mattson]]}}
{{football squad player |no=7 |nat=USA |pos=MF |name=[[Dick McCormick]]}}
{{football squad player |no=8 |nat=ESP |pos=DF/MF |name=[[Camilo Casal]]}}
{{football squad player |no=9 |nat=USA |pos=MF |name=[[Bruce Broughton (soccer)|Bruce Broughton]]}}
{{football squad player |no=10 |nat=USA  |pos=FW |name=[[John Olu-Molomo]]}}
{{football squad player |no=11 |nat=USA |pos=MF/FW |name=[[Shane Decker]]}}
{{Football squad mid}}
{{football squad player |no=12 |nat=USA |pos=DF |name=[[John Purtteman]]}}
{{football squad player |no=13 |nat=USA |pos=MF/FW |name=[[David Wheeler (soccer)|David Wheeler]]}}
{{football squad player |no=14 |nat=USA |pos=FW |name=[[Jason Dunn (soccer)|Jason Dunn]]}}
{{football squad player |no=15 |nat=USA |pos=MF/FW |name=[[Victor Bychov]]}}
{{football squad player |no=17 |nat=USA |pos=DF |name=[[Billy Crook (American soccer)|Bill Crook]]}}
{{football squad player |no=18 |nat=USA |pos=FW |name=[[Jean Harbor]]}}
{{football squad player |no=19 |nat=USA |pos=MF |name=[[Shannon Murray (soccer)|Shannon Murray]]}}
{{football squad player |no=20 |nat=MEX |pos=MF |name=Rafael Garcia}}
{{football squad player |no=21 |nat=ARG |pos=DF |name=[[Gaston Pernia]]}}
{{football squad player |no=22 |nat=ARG |pos=MF/FW |name=[[Marcelo Fontana]]}}
{{football squad player |no=30 |nat=USA |pos=MF |name=[[Tim Babcock (soccer)|Tim Babcock]]}}
{{football squad end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/SeaDogs.htm SeaDogs fan site]

{{Continental Indoor Soccer League}}
[[Category:Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States]]
[[Category:Soccer clubs in Seattle]]
[[Category:Continental Indoor Soccer League teams]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1997 disestablishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1995]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1997]]