Roy Lassiter was a sprained ankle or two away from what would have been one of the highlights of a soccer career that included plenty of memorable moments back in 1998.
Lassiter was an elite forward, scored 27 goals in the 1996 Major League Soccer season and made 34 appearances for the United States National Team.
Lassiter, who is now the coach of the Denton Diablos, laments to this day that he never had a chance to make one of those starts during the World Cup. He was an alternate with the United States team when the tournament was played in France.
鈥淚 got to go to the tournament and train,鈥� Lassiter recalled this summer while sitting with Diablos officials at Union Bear Brewing Co. during a post-practice lunch. 鈥淚f someone got hurt, there were three of us on deck. You had to be ready. It was a great experience.
鈥淭he stadiums were packed and people were prepared. I liked the seriousness of it. I just wished I could have played.鈥�
Very few people see the field in the World Cup, even among the best players in game. Lassiter and John Hedlund, the longtime women鈥檚 soccer coach at North Texas, both played for the U.S. National team without playing in the World Cup.
The two local greats are still coaching and will have memories from their days representing the U.S. flood back when this year鈥檚 World Cup kicks off on June 11. Mexico will take on South Africa in Mexico City in the opening match of the tournament.
This year鈥檚 World Cup will be played at sites throughout North America, including Dallas and Houston. The tournament landing so close to home adds to the excitement surrounding the event, especially those with lifelong ties to the game like Lassiter and Hedlund.
Hedlund played for the U.S. in the lead-up to the 1984 Summer Olympics before missing the tournament due to injury. He represented the U.S. in tournaments in South Korea, Sweden, Finland and Malaysia during his international career.
鈥淧laying for the U.S. National Team and representing the United States was the greatest thrill of my soccer career,鈥� Hedlund said. 鈥淩epresenting my country against some of the best players from around the world remains one of the most memorable experiences of my life.鈥�
Lassiter feels the same was about his time with the national team that lasted eight years.
鈥淚t was a great experience and always a challenge,鈥� Lassiter said. 鈥淓very time you went to camp, everyone was good and would bring it. They were determined and had high expectations. They were all pros.
鈥淚 liked challenges as a player, and I like them now as a coach.鈥�
Their experience with the U.S. national has helped both Lassiter and Hedlund during successful coaching careers. Hedlund started out as an assistant with the UNT men鈥檚 team following his days as a player.
The school came to him later and asked him to start a women鈥檚 program. Hedlund strung together 30 straight winning seasons, has won 16 conference titles and led UNT to seven NCAA Tournaments heading into his final season at the school this fall. He鈥檚 set to retire as UNT鈥檚 all-time winningest coach in all sports after the upcoming season when he鈥檒l look to add to his remarkable 406-168-55 record.
鈥淛ohn Hedlund鈥檚 impact on North Texas soccer and our entire athletic department is nothing short of remarkable,鈥� UNT athletic director Jared Mosley said when Hedlund announced his decision to step down a few months ago. 鈥淥ver three decades, he has built a championship culture defined by excellence, consistency and class. His legacy is measured not only in wins and titles, but in the countless student-athletes he has mentored and the standard he has set for our programs.鈥�
Lassiter has also made an impact as a coach. He works with young players in Houston in addition to coaching the Diablos. The local semipro team brought him on this season in the hope he can help vault it forward.
The Diablos joined the United Soccer League and a higher level of competition last summer. Denton plays in USL League Two.
鈥淩oy is a tremendous human being, has a great spirit and represents everything we are about extremely well,鈥� Diablos co-owner Damon Gochneaur said. 鈥淏eyond that, he鈥檚 a legend in the game, he鈥檚 done things that all of our players are trying to achieve from being on World Cup teams to playing professionally in the United States.鈥�
Lassiter鈥檚 focus is on the next generation of players now, years after the end of his days as a player. He鈥檚 seen excitement build as the tournament approaches and might try to get out and see some of the action with World Cup games being played near his home in Houston and in Dallas, just down the road from Denton, where he spends part of each week working with the Diablos.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see it, if I can get to one,鈥� Lassiter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting with it being here in my home country.鈥�
BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and bvito@dentonrc.com.
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