The California Cougars were an
indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer (known internationally as indoor football, fast football, or showball) is five-a-side version of minifootball, derived from association football and adapted to be played in walled hardcourt indoor arena. Indoor socc ...
team, founded in 2004. The team was a charter member of the
Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro), the first division of arena (indoor) soccer in North America.
They played their home matches at the
Stockton Arena in
Stockton, California
Stockton is a city in and the county seat of San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. Stockton was founded by Carlos Maria Weber in 1849 after he acquir ...
. Their team colors were red, gold and black. The team's head coach was Antonio Sutton.
History
In February 2004, John Thomas, a real estate developer, purchased an expansion team in the
Major Indoor Soccer League for
Stockton, California
Stockton is a city in and the county seat of San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. Stockton was founded by Carlos Maria Weber in 1849 after he acquir ...
. The team was named the California Cougars so that it would represent all of northern California as a regional team.
The first general manager was
Dennis Lukens
Dennis Lukens (born June 28, 1952) is an American professional soccer coach and former player.
Playing career
Lukens played college soccer for Springfield College, and professionally for the Boston Storm. He was the founder of the Boston Storm.
...
, a former "A" League GM who oversaw the start up operation. He was succeeded by Emily Ballus, a former executive with the WUSA. Because it is only 40 miles south of
Sacramento, the team hoped to draw fans of the old
Sacramento Knights of the
CISL and
WISL. The team began play in the 2005–2006 season after the construction of its arena. In August 2006, the team was purchased by Rick and Greg Toy and their brother in-law Jim Rachels.
In May 2008, the team announced that it was joining the
Professional Arena Soccer League and would be renamed the Stockton Cougars.
PASL
/ref> In April 2009, local businessman Fred Walke purchased majority interest in the franchise. For the 2009–2010 season Stockton Cougars went back to calling itself California Cougars.
Year-by-year
Playoff record
Coaches
Head coaches
* Troy Dayak (2005–2007)
* Bernie Lilavois (2007–2009)
* Antonio Sutton (2009–2011)
Assistant coaches
* Dennis Lukens
Dennis Lukens (born June 28, 1952) is an American professional soccer coach and former player.
Playing career
Lukens played college soccer for Springfield College, and professionally for the Boston Storm. He was the founder of the Boston Storm.
...
(2005–2006)
* Antonio Sutton (2007–2009)Aaron Susi
According to Abrahamic religions, Aaron ''′aharon'', ar, هارون, Hārūn, Greek (Septuagint): Ἀαρών; often called Aaron the priest ()., group="note" ( or ; ''’Ahărōn'') was a prophet, a high priest, and the elder brother of ...
(2008–2011)
Arenas
* Stockton Arena (2005–2011)
References
External links
Cougars official website
PASL-Pro website
{{Central Valley Sports
Soccer clubs in California
Association football clubs established in 2004
Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States
Sports in Stockton, California
Defunct Professional Arena Soccer League teams
Indoor soccer clubs in the United States
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008) teams
2004 establishments in California
2011 disestablishments in California
Association football clubs disestablished in 2011