Klaas de Boer (born 6 January 1942, Kollum) is a retired U.S. soccer player and coach. He played professionally in the American Soccer League and was the 1977

NSCAA The United Soccer Coaches (formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)) is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. It is the largest soccer coaches organization in the world, with more than ...

Coach of the Year and 1985

American Indoor Soccer Association American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

Coach of the Year. He coached his teams to two league titles, the 1985 and 1986 AISA championships.

Player

The son of Elisabeth Schaap and Lammert de Boer, a baker in Kollum,

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

, De Boer immigrated with his family to the United States in 1956. De Boer attended

Holland Christian High School Holland Christian High School is a private, Calvinist high school in the city of Holland, Michigan. Holland Christian's colors are maroon and white, and their nickname is "The Maroons". Holland Christian High School is the only grade 9–12 buil ...

Holland, Michigan Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River (formerly known locally as the Black Ri ...

before entering Michigan State University. He played soccer in both high school and college. In 1973, he signed with the Cleveland Stars in the American Soccer League. At the end of the season, the Stars came under new ownership who changed the team name to the Cleveland Cobras. He played one more season in Cleveland.

Coach

Even while playing professionally, De Boer was coaching at the collegiate level. He was hired by Cleveland State University in 1972 as head soccer coach. Over six season, he compiled a 55–25–3 record and was named the 1977 NSCAA Coach of the Year. He then served as an assistant coach with the

Los Angeles Aztecs The Los Angeles Aztecs was an American professional soccer team based in Los Angeles, California that existed from 1974 to 1981. The Aztecs competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1974 to 1981 as well as the 1975 NASL Indoor tourn ...

and

Detroit Express The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned by Jimmy Hill, Roger ...

of the North American Soccer League. In 1979, he was hired as an assistant coach by the expansion Detroit Lightning of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In 1984, he became a head coach with the Canton Invaders of the newly established

. He took the Invaders to the league championship, winning Coach of the Year honors. In his two season in Canton, he compiled a 50–32–18 (.640) record and won two championships. His win percentage is the highest in U.S. indoor soccer history. Today he runs the Dutch Masters Soccer School in his hometown of

Dutch Masters
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:de Boer, Klaas 1942 births Living people American Indoor Soccer Association coaches American soccer coaches American soccer players American Soccer League (1933–1983) players Cleveland Cobras players Cleveland State Vikings men's soccer coaches Cleveland State Vikings men's soccer players Boer, Klaas de Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) coaches North American Soccer League (1968–1984) coaches Boer, Klaas de People from Holland, Michigan Boer, Klaas de Boer, Klaas de Association footballers not categorized by position Footballers from Friesland