Don Popovic

Don Popovic


Full Name: Dragan Popović
Year Inducted: 2011
Head Coach
Born: 1/1/1941 Berane, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Teams: New York Arrows (1978-83), Golden Bay Earthquakes (1983-84), Las Vegas Americans (1984-85), Pittsburgh Spirit (1985-86), St. Louis Storm (1989-92)
Championships: 4 (1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82)

Pops

Popovic and his New York Arrows were the most dominant team in MISL history. They won the first four championships compiling a 114-26 record. Much of the success of the San Diego Sockers derived from the core group that originated in New York. Popovic would coach five MISL teams and never replicated what his Arrows did, but found success in Golden Bay, Las Vegas and St. Louis, sometimes reuniting with such players as Steve Zungul, Juli Veee, Fernando Clavijo, and Zoltan Toth. Popovic finished with a career record of 275-167.

Career

Regular Season
 




YearLeagueTeamGWLPct.Finish
1978-79MISLNew York Arrows24168.6672nd/League
1979-80MISLNew York Arrows32275.8441st/Atlantic
1980-81MISLNew York Arrows40355.8751st/Atlantic
1981-82MISLNew York Arrows44368.8181st/Eastern
1982-83MISLNew York Arrows301713.5674th/Eastern*
1982-83MISLGolden Bay Earthquakes18810.4446th/Western†
1983-84NASLGolden Bay Earthquakes321913.5944th/League
1984-85MISLLas Vegas Americans382612.6842nd/Western†
1985-86MISLPittsburgh Spirit482325.4796th/Eastern
1989-90MISLSt. Louis Storm522428.4623rd/Western
1990-91MSLSt. Louis Storm523220.6152nd/Western
1991-92MSLSt. Louis Storm321220.3757th/League*
11 seasons
 442275167.622

*replaced mideason
†hired midseason

Playoffs
 




YearLeagueTeamGWLPct.Result
1978-79MISLNew York Arrows3301.000Champions
1979-80MISLNew York Arrows3301.000Champions
1980-81MISLNew York Arrows541.800Champions
1981-82MISLNew York Arrows1073.700Champions
1983-84NASLGolden Bay Earthquakes202.000L Semifinals
1984-85MISLLas Vegas Americans413.250L Quarterfinals
1989-90MISLSt. Louis Storm413.250L Quarterfinals
1990-91MSLSt. Louis Storm835.375L Semifinals
8 playoffs
 392217.564

Awards

Coach of the YearAll-Star Games
1980-81 MISL1980 MISL

1981 MISL

1983 MISL (assistant)