Hall of Fame
When it comes to a quick quip or a snappy response, Cliff McCrath can hold his own with just about anyone.
Â
But on the soccer field, it was hard for anyone – especially opposing coaches – to hold their own with him.
Â
Through 38 seasons, Cliff built the Seattle Pacific men’s program into on that towered above the rest. Among the 512 victories his Falcons recorded, five of them came in national championship games: the long-awaited first one in 1978, another in 1983, the back-to-back crowns in 1985 and ’86, and then one more in 1993.
Â
Altogether, his teams played in 10 NCAA finals. The Falcons went to the postseason 30 times during his tenure, and put together 37 consecutive winning seasons.
Â
After the last whistle, he had a record of 597-233-95, the second-highest total in college soccer history. That included one season at Wheaton College in Illinois, seven at Gordon College in Massachusetts, and three at Spring Arbor College in Michigan.
Â
Cliff already is in numerous Halls of Fame. That includes the National Soccer Coaches Association of America shrine, into which he was inducted in January 2009.
Â
Though retired from coaching, he stays very close to the game, as he is the president and director of Northwest Soccer Camp.
Â
Â
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS (1970-2007)
• Named the national Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 1978. Also was presented with that organization’s Honor Award, its highest level of recognition, in 1985.
• Along with induction into the NSCAA Hall of Fame (2009) and now the Falcon Hall of Fame, was enshrined in the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 1993.
• Won eight conference Coach of the Year awards – six in the Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference, and two in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
• Named Seattle Sports Star of the Year in 1986 by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper.
• Falcon players won 18 All-America awards during his coaching tenure. McCrath himself was an All-American player at Wheaton College in Illinois.
