Joseph M. Morrone (sometimes called Joe Jr. in error) (March 19, 1959–) is a former U.S. soccer

midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...

who is the son of soccer coach Joe Morrone, Joseph J. Morrone Jr. While playing for the

UConn Huskies The UConn Huskies (or Connecticut Huskies) are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Connecticut, located in Storrs. The school is a member of the NCAA's Division I and the Big East Conference. The university's foo ...

, he won the 1980 Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate player of the year and the 1981

North American Soccer League The North American Soccer League may refer to: *North American Soccer League (1968–1984), a former Division I league *North American Soccer League (2011–2017) The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer league b ...

Rookie of the Year. At the time, Morrone was the most decorated athlete in the University of Connecticut's history.

Sports career

Morrone played soccer at E. O. Smith High School, where he was All-American and State Champion in 1976 and 1977. His father was

UConn The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from ...

soccer coach Joseph J. Morrone Jr. Morrone attended the

University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from H ...

from 1977 to 1980 where he starred on his father's team. In 1980, he capped his four years at the school with first team All American honors and the Hermann Trophy as the best college players that year. He finished his career at UConn with 158 points on 61 goals and 36 assists. In 1980, Morrone joined the U.S. Olympic team as it began qualification for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. Morrone scored two winning goals for the U.S. team in a 2–1 victory over Suriname and a 1–0 victory over Costa Rica. The U.S. finished tops in qualification but did not get to play because President

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...

boycotted the games after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Morrone was drafted by the Tulsa Roughnecks of the

. He garnered Rookie of the Year honors in 1981. He played the 1981 and part of the 1982 season with Tulsa. He also appeared in 18

indoor Indoor(s) may refer to: *the interior of a building *Indoor environment, in building science, traditionally includes the study of indoor thermal environment, indoor acoustic environment, indoor light environment, and indoor air quality *Built envi ...

games for them between 1980 and 1982. In May 1982 the Roughnecks traded Morrone to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for Todd Saldana and two draft choices. Morrone played the 1982 NASL and the 1982–1983 Major Indoor Soccer League season with the Earthquakes. He then signed with the Pittsburgh Spirit. He unexpectedly retired on March 5, 1984 stating he was burned out on soccer and wished to complete his business degree."Whitecaps won't win race but might decide who does" ''Evening Tribune'' (San Diego) Tuesday, March 6, 1984

References

External links

NASL Stats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrone, Joe 1959 births Living people People from Middlebury, Vermont University of Connecticut alumni American men's soccer players Soccer players from Connecticut UConn Huskies men's soccer players All-American college men's soccer players Golden Bay Earthquakes (MISL) players Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) players North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor players Pittsburgh Spirit players San Jose Earthquakes (1974–1988) players Tulsa Roughnecks (1978–1984) players Men's association football midfielders Hermann Trophy men's winners