| Founded | 1984 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium | UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena | |||
| Capacity | 9,500 | |||
| Owner | Mike Zimmerman | |||
| Head Coach | Giuliano Oliviero[1] | |||
| League | Major Arena Soccer League | |||
| 2022–23 | 1st, Eastern Conference Playoffs: Semifinals | |||
| Website | https://www.milwaukeewave.com | |||
TheMilwaukee Wave are an American professionalindoor soccer team based inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, that competes in theMajor Arena Soccer League (MASL). Founded in 1984, they have been the oldest continuously operating professional indoorsoccer team in the United States[2] and are seven-time league champions, most recent being the2018–19 champions of the MASL.[3]
The team plays their games at theUW–Milwaukee Panther Arena. The team colors are black and yellow.[4] The team has won seven league championships in their history, three in the NPSL, three in the MISL, and one in the MASL.
The team was founded on August 3, 1984, as a member of theAmerican Indoor Soccer Association and played in every season and incarnation of that league (seeNPSL). They have also played in theXtreme Soccer League and thesecond andthird versions of the Major Indoor Soccer League. The team is currently a member of theMajor Arena Soccer League. Milwaukee also hosted the 2003 and 2006 MISL II All-Star Games.[5]
Keith Tozer was the team's coach for 21 years before leaving to becomeUnited States national futsal team head coach. While with the Wave, he was the all-time winningest coach in North American indoor soccer, with six league championships and more than 700 wins.[6]
The Wave played in the first season of theXtreme Soccer League in the 2008 – 2009 season, but moved to the newMajor Indoor Soccer League for the 2009–2010 season.[7]
After the 2013–2014 season, the team announced that it was leaving the MISL along with five other teams and joining the MASL.[8]
In 2014 the ownership group ROC Ventures, headed by Mike Zimmerman, became a partner in the team's ownership.[9]
Just before the 2014–15 season began, the Wave replaced their traditional greenartificial turf with a black turf to match the team's colors and marketing strategy. Reception by fans and the press was mixed but generally positive.[10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
| Entry date | Position | No. | Player | From club | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep 2022 | GK | Harrisburg Heat | [12] | ||
| 13 Oct 2022 | FW | [13] | |||
| 19 Jan 2023 | MD | Marquette University | [14] |
| Exit date | Position | No. | Player | To club | Ref. |
|---|
| Name | Inducted | Years played |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Knezic | 2009 | 1984–1990 |
| Art Kramer | 2009 | 1987–1991 |
| Steve Morris | 2009 | 1992–2002 |
| Victor Nogueira | 2009 | 1992–2003 |
| Todd Dusosky | 2009 | 1996–2007 |
| Michael King | 2009 | 1993–2008 |
| Tony Pierce | 2010 | 1985–1991, 1992–1993 |
| Pat White | 2011 | 1995–2005 |
| Lee Rogers | 2011 | 1986–1992 |
| Greg Howes | 2011 | 2000–2008, 2011–2012 |
| George Pastor | 2012 | 1986–1991 |
| Michael Richardson | 2012 | 1994–1995, 1996–2000 |
| Jimmy Banks | 2013 | 1987–1993 |
| Ricky Mobley | 2013 | 1993–2000 |
| League Champions | Runners-Up | Division Champions | Playoff Berth |
| Year | League | Record | PF | PA | Finish | Playoffs | Avg. Attend. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–85 | AISA | 13–27 | 213 | 248 | 6th, AISA | did not qualify | 2,114 |
| 1985–86 | AISA | 11–29 | 189 | 247 | 6th, AISA | did not qualify | 1,802 |
| 1986–87 | AISA | 12–30 | 148 | 222 | 4th, Northern | did not qualify | 2,316 |
| 1987–88 | AISA | 11–13 | 103 | 111 | 3rd, AISA | 3rd, Challenge Cup, 6–6 | 3,271 |
| 1988–89 | AISA | 24–16 | 377 | 355 | 2nd, AISA | Lost Semifinal | 6,410 |
| 1989–90 | AISA | 21–19 | 373 | 353 | 2nd, National | Lost Semifinals | 7,369 |
| 1990–91 | NPSL II | 23–17 | 453 | 404 | 2nd, National | Lost First Round | 6,765 |
| 1991–92 | NPSL II | 18–22 | 453 | 534 | 4th, National | did not qualify | 7,629 |
| 1992–93 | NPSL II | 17–23 | 513 | 509 | 5th, National | did not qualify | 7,758 |
| 1993–94 | NPSL II | 20–20 | 496 | 486 | 4th, National | Lost First Round | 7,692 |
| 1994–95 | NPSL II | 23–17 | 535 | 459 | 3rd, National | Lost First Round | 7,108 |
| 1995–96 | NPSL II | 30–10 | 610 | 438 | 2nd, National | Lost Division Semifinals | 7,363 |
| 1996–97 | NPSL II | 26–14 | 525 | 472 | 2nd, Midwest | Lost Conference Quarterfinals | 7,975 |
| 1997–98 | NPSL II | 28–12 | 593 | 486 | 1st, Central | Won Championship | 7,903 |
| 1998–99 | NPSL II | 25–15 | 518 | 428 | 2nd, Central | Lost Conference Semifinals | 8,453 |
| 1999–2000 | NPSL II | 31–13 | 657 | 483 | 1st, North | Won Championship | 8,002 |
| 2000–01 | NPSL II | 24–16 | 544 | 452 | 1st, National | Won Championship | 8,310 |
| 2001–02 | MISL II | 34–10 | 663 | 468 | 1st, MISL | Lost Championship | 6,665 |
| 2002–03 | MISL II | 28–8 | 505 | 317 | 1st, Western | Lost Championship | 7,096 |
| 2003–04 | MISL II | 27–9 | 235 | 161 | 1st, Central | Lost Championship | 6,012 |
| 2004–05 | MISL II | 24–15 | 219 | 173 | 1st, MISL | Won Championship | 3,675 |
| 2005–06 | MISL II | 17–13 | 193 | 167 | 3rd, MISL | Lost Semifinal | 4,352 |
| 2006–07 | MISL II | 16–14 | 397 | 360 | 4th, MISL | Lost Semifinal | 4,618 |
| 2007–08 | MISL II | 22–8 | 424 | 297 | 2nd, MISL | Lost Semifinal | 4,367 |
| 2008–09 | XSL | 10–10 | 236 | 216 | 3rd, XSL | No playoffs | 4,563 |
| 2009–10 | MISL III | 14–6 | 242 | 201 | 1st, MISL | Lost Championship | 3,977 |
| 2010–11 | MISL III | 15–5 | 266 | 191 | 2nd, MISL | Won Championship | 4,548 |
| 2011–12 | MISL III | 18–6 | 356 | 264 | 1st, Central | Won Championship | 3,955 |
| 2012–13 | MISL III | 21–5 | 310 | 230 | 2nd, MISL | Lost Semifinals | 5,069 |
| 2013–14 | MISL III | 16–4 | 324 | 203 | 2nd, MISL | Lost Semifinals | 4,907 |
| 2014–15 | MASL | 13–7 | 160 | 107 | 2nd, Central | Lost Division Finals | 2,962 |
| 2015–16 | MASL | 13–7 | 130 | 114 | 3rd, Central | Lost Division Finals | 3,504 |
| 2016–17 | MASL | 13–7 | 135 | 103 | 2nd, Central | Lost Conference Final | 3,794 |
| 2017–18 | MASL | 17–5 | 172 | 124 | 1st, Central | Lost Conference Final | 4,101 |
| 2018–19 | MASL | 21–3 | 187 | 97 | 1st, South Central | Won Championship | 4,023 |
| 2019–20* | MASL | 14–6 | 157 | 96 | 2nd, Eastern | No playoffs | 3,847 |
| 2021 | MASL | Did not participate due to theCOVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2021–22 | MASL | 10-14 | 146 | 162 | 4th, Central | Lost Quarterfinals | 3,026 |
| 2022–23 | MASL | 15-9 | 154 | 145 | 1st, East | Lost Conference Final | 3,396 |
| 2023–24 | MASL | 15-9 | 161 | 137 | 4th, Eastern | Lost Conference Final | 3,216 |
| 2024–25 | MASL | 14-10 | 177 | 144 | 5th, MASL | Lost Semifinals | 3,538 |
| Total | 764–502 Pts % = .603 | 13,249 | 10,864 | 5,228 | |||
* Regular season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1984–1985, 1985–1986 | Dave Johnson |
| 1985–1987 | Mike Custer |
| 1987–1990 | John Dolinsky |
| 1990–1992 | Johan Aarino |
| 1992–2014 | Keith Tozer* |
| 2014–present | Giuliano Oliviero |
* Keith Tozer missed parts of the 1997–98 & 1999–00 season coaching theUS Futsal team. Both times,Art Kramer filled in.