Founding Futbol

Chapter Two: 1959 NCAA Men’s Championship and the St. Louis Era (with David Lange)

Episode Summary

In 1959, the first year the NCAA staged a national soccer championship, St. Louis University converted its club program to varsity status. It was unlikely that the Billikens would immediately become a powerhouse. After all, some programs had already been in existence for nearly five decades and hundreds of others for at least a decade. How would this upstart team compete? But head coach Bob Guelker built a roster full of St. Louisans that would become an immediate powerhouse and the beginning of a college soccer dynasty. Their model would change college soccer and help forge a path for the sport to become popular in America. Author Dave Lange is our guest. He wrote ⁠⁠⁠Soccer Made in St. Louis⁠ which features rich details about the 1959 NCAA Championship and St. Louis University's soccer history. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice. Host: Kent Malmros Guest: Dave Lange (Author, Soccer Made in St. Louis) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode Notes

In 1959, the first year the NCAA staged a national soccer championship, St. Louis University converted its club program to varsity status. It was unlikely that the Billikens would immediately become a powerhouse. After all, some programs had already been in existence for nearly five decades and hundreds of others for at least a decade. How would this upstart team compete? But head coach Bob Guelker built a roster full of St. Louisans that would become an immediate powerhouse and the beginning of a college soccer dynasty. Their model would change college soccer and help forge a path for the sport to become popular in America.

Author Dave Lange is our guest. He wrote ⁠⁠⁠Soccer Made in St. Louis⁠ which features rich details about the 1959 NCAA Championship and St. Louis University's soccer history.

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com

Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.

Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Dave Lange (Author, Soccer Made in St. Louis)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices