Jimmy Mcalister
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DIRECTOR OF SOCCER
Having Jimmy McAlister in the club’s top leadership position reflects the club’s commitment to proven, top-level coaching, progressive player development and a club infrastructure worthy of its position as the unified select soccer club for the SYSA. McAlister brings thirty years of demonstrated results both as a coach at all levels of youth soccer and as a professional player.
As a Seattle Sounder from the NASL era, Jimmy McAlister has a rich history in the Seattle soccer scene. “’Jimmy Mac’ is a Seattle soccer icon,” says Seattle Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “He’s coached soccer at the highest levels of the youth game in Washington, and his enthusiasm and passion for the game will be good for young players in Seattle.”
“I’m very happy to be a part of Seattle United,” said McAlister. “We have the opportunity and responsibility to create something very special: a high level youth soccer club that nurtures all level of soccer players throughout the city. We have the obligation to enhance the soccer experience as well as life experiences for thousands of kids in the Seattle area. I relish the challenge of building a nationally respected club.”
Jimmy McAlister brings to Seattle United a bounty of experience and relationships to launch the new club. McAlister is an early product of the Seattle youth soccer system. He grew up in Seattle where he attended John F. Kennedy High School. When he graduated in 1975 after a stellar youth playing experience, McAlister was immediately signed by the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League (NASL). McAlister enjoyed an extensive ten year professional playing career. He spent eight seasons in the NASL (four with the Sounders) and seven in the Major Indoor Soccer League (four with the Tacoma Stars). McAlister earned Rookie of the Year during his first season in the NASL and was named Washington state professional player of the year. During his career, he was a member of the US National Team over three years and earned six caps.
In 2000, McAlister became the head coach of the Decatur High School boys soccer team, propelling the team to back-to-back Washington State 4A Boys State Soccer Championships. Jimmy next led the Hibernian Saints, which he coached to a United States Adult Soccer Association National Championship title. In addition to these successes, Jimmy shared his knowledge and winning ways with Federal Way United, securing State Championships at the Boys Under-12, 13 and 14 age groups.
McAlister has also served as Academy Director with Washington Premier FC (WPFC) in Tacoma while it had its U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) teams. The USSDA serves as home for the nation’s top youth players and is comprised of 72 elite youth soccer clubs nationwide (only two in Washington…WPFC no longer has USSDA teams). McAlister is one of only a few youth coaches statewide that has been entrusted to lead one of the USSDA teams.
Jimmy’s coaching abilities, teachings, and talents continue to be well sought after and have proven to be the basis for developing great players both on and off the field. McAlister was most recently honored for his ongoing commitment to the game through receipt of the Golden Scarf Award from the Seattle Sounders FC. He is a member of the Washington State Youth Soccer Hall of Fame.