Stadium: | UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena |
Capacity: | 9,500 |
Season: | 2022–23 |
Current: | 2022–23 Major Arena Soccer League season |
Website: | https://www.milwaukeewave.com |
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Clubname: | Milwaukee Wave |
Founded: | 1984 |
Owntitle: | Owner |
Owner: | Mike Zimmerman |
Mgrtitle: | Head Coach |
Manager: | Giuliano Oliviero[1] |
League: | Major Arena Soccer League |
Position: | 1st, Eastern Conference Playoffs: Semifinals |
American: | true |
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1984, they have been the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in the United States[2] and are seven-time league champions, most recent being the 2018–19 champions of the Major Arena Soccer League.[3]
The team plays their games at the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena. The team colors are black and yellow.[4] The team has won 7 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 the American Indoor Soccer Association and played in every season and incarnation of that league (see MISL). They have also played in the Xtreme Soccer League and the third version of the MISL. The team is currently a member of the Major 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 become United 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 the Xtreme Soccer League in the 2008 – 2009 season, but moved to the new Major 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 join 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 green artificial 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]
Entry date | Position | No. | Player | From club | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Sep 2022 | GK | William Banahene | Harrisburg Heat | [12] | |
13 Oct 2022 | FW | Cole Stephens | [13] | ||
19 Jan 2023 | MD | Alan Salmeron | Marquette University | [14] | |
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 the COVID-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 | |
Total | 750–492 Pts % = .604 | 13,072 | 10,720 | 5,228 |
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 the US Futsal team. Both times, Art Kramer filled in.