University of Memphis Athletics
Men's Soccer Tigers In The Pros
In recent years, Memphis Tiger soccer has grown into a proving ground for potential professional players. Several former Tigers have gone on to lucrative professional careers in recent years, both in American leagues and on the international stage.
Mark Sherrod was drafted by the Houston Dynamo in the second round of the 2014 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. Sherrod finished his standout career at Memphis ranked third in program history in both goals (42) and points (96). He was also a three-time all-conference selection and a two-time NSCAA All-American while at Memphis.
The Knoxville, Tenn. native scored two goals in his rookie season for the Dynamo before being selected by Orlando City in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. He was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for the 2015 season.
Sherrod became the third Tiger to be drafted and the fourth player in the program’s history, along with Dayton O’Brien, Andy Metcalf and Daniel Dobson, to make it to the MLS. O'Brien was a third-round selection (33rd overall in the 2006 SuperDraft) of the Columbus Crew, while Metcalf was selected in the 2006 supplemental draft by D.C. United. Dobson played for the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting KC) during his time in the MLS.
Several other Tigers have joined professional clubs in America, including current associate head coach Tony McManus (UAB, '03) who spent nine seasons playing in Major League Soccer (MLS), United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL) and former Tiger great Sean Fraser (who played at the club level in Canada). McManus began his professional career with the Chicago Fire of the MLS in 2004 before joining the Virginia Beach Mariners of the USL First Division.
In 2017, Raul Gonzalez became the first player under head coach Richard Mulrooney to sign a professional contract as he signed with the Richmond Kickers, a DC United affiliate. The next year in 2018, former Tiger goalkeeper Jake Leeker signed a USL contract with Real Monarchs SLC. Jackson Morse continued the trend of Tigers making the next step in their soccer careers, signing a contract with Memphis 901 FC in 2020. He joined Gonzalez on the hometown USL team, after Gonzalez joined the team in 2019.
Other former Tigers have gone overseas to pursue their dreams of football glory. Former Memphis footballer Michael Coburn played in his home country of Ireland with Dundalk FC of the Irish Premier League and Shelbourne of the Irish First Division.Â
Sean Fraser
2003 - Calgary Storm
2004 - Edmonton Aviators
2005 - Toronto Lynx
2006 -Â Nanchang Bayi
Daniel Dobson
2005 - Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC)
Dayton O'Brien
2006 - Columbus Crew
2007 - Atlanta Silverbacks
2008 - Minnesota Thunder
Andy Metcalf
2006 - D.C. United
Michael Coburn
2009 - Dundalk F.C.
2010 - Shelbourne F.C.
Mark Sherrod
2014 - Houston Dynamo
2015 - San Jose Earthquakes
J.J. Greer
2014 - Charlotte Eagles
2015-16 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks
2017 - Phoenix Rising FC
Raul Gonzalez
2017 - Richmond Kickers
2018 - Memphis 901 FC
Jake Leeker
2018 - Real Monarchs
2019 - Portland Timbers 2
Jackson Morse
2020 - Memphis 901 FC
Mark Sherrod was drafted by the Houston Dynamo in the second round of the 2014 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. Sherrod finished his standout career at Memphis ranked third in program history in both goals (42) and points (96). He was also a three-time all-conference selection and a two-time NSCAA All-American while at Memphis.
The Knoxville, Tenn. native scored two goals in his rookie season for the Dynamo before being selected by Orlando City in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. He was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for the 2015 season.
Sherrod became the third Tiger to be drafted and the fourth player in the program’s history, along with Dayton O’Brien, Andy Metcalf and Daniel Dobson, to make it to the MLS. O'Brien was a third-round selection (33rd overall in the 2006 SuperDraft) of the Columbus Crew, while Metcalf was selected in the 2006 supplemental draft by D.C. United. Dobson played for the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting KC) during his time in the MLS.
Several other Tigers have joined professional clubs in America, including current associate head coach Tony McManus (UAB, '03) who spent nine seasons playing in Major League Soccer (MLS), United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL) and former Tiger great Sean Fraser (who played at the club level in Canada). McManus began his professional career with the Chicago Fire of the MLS in 2004 before joining the Virginia Beach Mariners of the USL First Division.
In 2017, Raul Gonzalez became the first player under head coach Richard Mulrooney to sign a professional contract as he signed with the Richmond Kickers, a DC United affiliate. The next year in 2018, former Tiger goalkeeper Jake Leeker signed a USL contract with Real Monarchs SLC. Jackson Morse continued the trend of Tigers making the next step in their soccer careers, signing a contract with Memphis 901 FC in 2020. He joined Gonzalez on the hometown USL team, after Gonzalez joined the team in 2019.
Other former Tigers have gone overseas to pursue their dreams of football glory. Former Memphis footballer Michael Coburn played in his home country of Ireland with Dundalk FC of the Irish Premier League and Shelbourne of the Irish First Division.Â
Sean Fraser
2003 - Calgary Storm
2004 - Edmonton Aviators
2005 - Toronto Lynx
2006 -Â Nanchang Bayi
Daniel Dobson
2005 - Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC)
Dayton O'Brien
2006 - Columbus Crew
2007 - Atlanta Silverbacks
2008 - Minnesota Thunder
Andy Metcalf
2006 - D.C. United
Michael Coburn
2009 - Dundalk F.C.
2010 - Shelbourne F.C.
Mark Sherrod
2014 - Houston Dynamo
2015 - San Jose Earthquakes
J.J. Greer
2014 - Charlotte Eagles
2015-16 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks
2017 - Phoenix Rising FC
Raul Gonzalez
2017 - Richmond Kickers
2018 - Memphis 901 FC
Jake Leeker
2018 - Real Monarchs
2019 - Portland Timbers 2
Jackson Morse
2020 - Memphis 901 FC