Midland Lutheran College soccer coach Dan Sullivan and Fremont native Robert Schulz have always been intrigued by the opportunity to be a part of a professional soccer team.
Until last year each viewed that opportunity as a distant possibility. Then, through different links to the Sioux Falls Spitfire of the Premier Development League the chance to become “pro” fell into both of their laps.
Sullivan's link to professional soccer was one of his former players, Robbie Miller, who played for the Spitfire last summer.
When the 2006 MLC graduate heard his team needed a new coach, he recommended Sullivan.
“I thought it was a long shot,” Sullivan said. “Then they called me up and did a phone interview. They brought me up (to Sioux Falls) and it came together real fast.”
As a senior at Fremont High, Schulz was recruited by Sullivan to join MLC's upstart soccer program. The 2002 FHS graduate who opted to play at Nebraska Wesleyan, now finds himself seeking a spot on Sullivan's PDL team.
MLC assist coach Harold Munoz helped link Schulz to the Spitfire. During a pick-up game at the Fremont Family YMCA, Munoz spotted Schulz and told him to get in touch with Sullivan about playing for the PDL team.
Sullivan explained to Schulz that the Spitfire's season runs from May through July. The team sets players up with summer jobs in Sioux Falls and also provides food and housing.
“Right when I graduated college (last December) I had the idea of going on and trying out for a team like this,” Schulz said. “I decided not to at the time and then changed my mind when this opportunity came.”
Schulz will be attending the second of two tryout days for the Spitfire today in Sioux Falls.
“Growing up, I always wanted to play a professional sport,” Schulz said. “In the back of your mind there's always that one and a million chance that it could happen. I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to play for the Spitfire and there's always a chance I could play at the level beyond that.”
Sullivan likens the PDL to soccer's equivalent of Single-A baseball. Standout players are offered contracts by level I and II teams of the United Soccer League. The USL feeds into Major League Soccer.
According to Sullivan, three Spitfire players have reached the MLS. He says the majority of PDL players are recent college graduates.
Saturday's tryouts are the second of two sessions in which Sullivan and his staff will be evaluating talent for this summer's team.
“We look for not only physical attributes, but also the ability to read and play the game quickly,” Sullivan said. “We're also looking for guys who are strong and mature. It's a physical league and it's taxing on their bodies in a short period of time.”
That ability to read the game could be an asset for Schulz who is the only player in Nebraska Wesleyan history to start every game from his freshman through senior seasons.
“I was pretty good at organizing the defensive formation for the team,” Schulz, a former Prairie Wolves center back defender, said. “One of my strengths is my communication skills and directing teammates to organize the defense. Offensively, I can serve the ball pretty accurate to players on the run and advance it to the midfield for counter attacks.”
During his time at Wesleyan, Schulz received All-Great Plains Athletic Conference recognition and also earned NCAA Division III honors. Schulz was a three-year starter at Fremont High and also competed as a running back and strong safety on the football team.
He credits time spent on the FHS power lifting team and training with Jim Rosenbach's martial arts school as other factors that helped him develop as a soccer player.
According to Schulz, it's the innovative side of the sport that continues to keep him interested.
“What keeps me intrigued is just seeing guys develop new skills, tactics and ideas every day and then incorporating them into a game,” Schulz said. “It just makes that player stand out more when they score a goal or make a great pass or defensive play.”
Five players from last year's Spitfire team have been offered contracts for this season. The remaining spots will be filled after today's tryouts.
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