 Ulrich circa 1984 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Ulrich | ||
| Date of birth | (1961-01-09)January 9, 1961 (age 64) | ||
| Place of birth | Poughkeepsie, New York,United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1979–1980 | Ulster Community College | ||
| 1981–1982 | Duke Blue Devils | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1982–1984 | New York Arrows (indoor) | 65 | (8) |
| 1984–1985 | Dallas Sidekicks (indoor) | 16 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Joe Ulrich is a retired U.S.soccerdefender. He won the 1982Hermann Trophy as that year's top collegiate soccer player. He also played three seasons in theMajor Indoor Soccer League.
Ulrich attendedArlington High School. After graduating from high school, Ulrich played soccer atUlster County Community College in New York for two years. In December 1980, he was selected by theTampa Bay Rowdies in the first round of theNorth American Soccer League draft.[1] Instead of signing with the Rowdies he continued his education and transferred toDuke University in 1981. While at Duke University, he played on the school's men's soccer team in 1981 and 1982. In 1981, he was named theACC Player of the Year. In 1982, the Blue Devils went to theNCAA Championship game where it lost toIndiana in eight overtimes. That year, Ulrich won theHermann Trophy as the top collegiate player of the year. In his two years at Duke, he scored 13 goals, despite playing as a defender. In 1999, Duke inducted Ulrich into its Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]
In December 1982, theChicago Sting drafted Ulrich in the first round of theNorth American Soccer League draft, but did not sign Ulrich.[3] That year, theNew York Arrows drafted Ulrich in the first round (12th overall) of theMajor Indoor Soccer League college draft. The Arrows signed Ulrich for $28,000 per year for two years. He spent two seasons with the Arrows, until they folded at the end of the 1983–1984 season. He then signed as a free agent with theDallas Sidekicks on September 11, 1984. He appeared in only sixteen games with the Sidekicks during the 1984–1985 season before the team released him on March 7, 1985.
After retiring from playing professionally, Ulrich was hired byIBM.