Michigan State Men's Soccer Celebrates 50th Anniversary
9/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 28, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The 2006 season marks the 50th anniversary of men's soccer at Michigan State. The university will honor the 50th anniversary this weekend Sept. 30 - Oct. 1. As part of the celebration, members of past Spartan teams will be recognized at the Saturday, Sept. 30, homecoming football game vs. Illinois, with a reception afterwards. The past and present also reunite on Sunday, Oct. 1, with a halftime ceremony during the MSU vs. Indiana soccer game.
Since its inaugural season in 1956, the men's soccer program has compiled an impressive ledger of 457-240-72, making it Michigan State's winningest team sport, entering the 2006 season with a .640 winning percentage.
Experiencing success throughout the decades, Michigan State has produced a total of 17 All-Americans, 35 All-Big Ten selections, one Big Ten Championship, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and two NCAA National Co-Championships.
Head coach Gene Kenney was the founder of the Spartan soccer dynasty in 1956, leading Michigan State to undefeated records in each of their first three seasons.
Kenney continued to lead the Spartan squad to its most successful years in the 1960's, making eight-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. In 1967, MSU claimed its first National Co-Championship, sharing the crown with St. Louis after battling to a scoreless tie. The Spartans followed the '67 season with a repeat trip to the national stage in 1968, again walking away with a NCAA Co-Championship, tying Maryland, 2-2.
The Kenney era produced 16 All-Americans. Retiring in 1969, Kenney gave way to Payton Fuller and then Ed Rutherford, who would take over the Spartan bench in the 1970's. In the seven-year span from 1970-1976, Michigan State compiled a mark of 45-15-12.
In 1976, Michigan State hired its fourth head coach in program history, Joe Baum, who still maintains the helm today.
In his 30th season, Baum maintains the longest current coaching tenure at Michigan State, compiling an overall record of 292-212-47. In the past 29 years, Baum has directed 19 winning seasons. Highlighting the 1980's were the 1985 and 1986 teams, which set a single-season school-record with 13 wins. The following decade would produce six winning seasons, tallying 89 wins in the 1990's.
Since 2000, Michigan State has made two NCAA Tournament appearances, in 2001 and 2004, with the Spartans also capturing their first Big Ten Championship in 2004.
Joe Baum's legacy at Michigan State is not only limited to his success as the head men's soccer coach, having also served as the initial head coach of the women's program from 1986-1990, where he compiled a 69-23-5 record.
In addition to his brilliant coaching career, Baum was a member of the 1967 and 1968 NCAA Co-Championship teams, playing in goal for the Spartans from 1966-1968. On Sept. 21, 2006, head coach Joe Baum was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame.
50th Anniversary Events:
Saturday 9/30
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Alumni Tailgate (Old College Field)
12 p.m. - Homecoming football game vs. Illinois (Spartan Stadium)
4 p.m. - Alumni reception (Kellogg Center)
Sunday 10/1
10 a.m. - Alumni Soccer Match (Old College Field)
11 a.m. - Alumni/Parent Tailgate (Jenison Parking Lot)
12 p.m. - Men's soccer vs. Indiana (Old College Field)
3 p.m. - Women's soccer vs. Purdue (Old College Field)
