Bill Nuttall


Bill Nuttall is the owner of Golden Viking Sports, licensee for the soccer brand Diadora. He was a first team Junior College and first team NSCAA All-American soccer goalkeeper who spent at least three seasons in the American Soccer League and three seasons in the North American Soccer League. He was the 1970 first team All American goalkeeper, coached at both the collegiate and professional levels and was the general manager of the United States Soccer Federation teams from 1991 to 1994.

Club career

Nuttall grew up in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. He attended Davis & Elkins College, playing on the men's soccer team from 1967 to 1970. The team won the 1968 and 1970 NAIA national men's soccer championship and finished runner up in 1969. One of his teammates was Hank Steinbrecher. Nuttall was the 1969 NAIA Tournament MVP and the 1970 first team All American goalkeeper. Nuttall was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970. In 1971, Nuttall signed with the Delaware Wings in the American Soccer League. In 1974, he moved to the Miami Toros of the North American Soccer League when his old coach from Davis & Elkins became the Strikers' head coach. Following the 1976 team, the Toros moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and became the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Nuttall made the move, but never played for the Strikers. He was replaced on the roster by former England international Gordon Banks.

Coach

hired Nuttall in 1975 to coach the men's soccer team. He held that position for five seasons, compiling a 56-18-1 record. In 1979, he was the play by play commentator for ESPN's first soccer broadcast, a college game between Indiana University and the University of Minnesota. Nuttall then worked as an assistant coach with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers from 1979 to 1984.

Executive

Nuttall served as the Director of Player Personnel for the Dallas Sidekicks from 1984 to 1985. In 1985, he became a Vice President of Marketing and Promotion with Mitre Sports International. In July 1991, the United States Soccer Federation hired Nuttall as General Manager for the U.S. national teams. In September 1998, he moved to Diadora. He is currently the owner of Golden Viking Sports.