Dustin Swinehart (born July 1, 1974, in Columbus, Ohio) is a former American soccer player. He spent virtually his entire professional career playing with the Charlotte Eagles. Swinehart was named the Director of Community Relations for Charlotte FC in January 2020.

Dustin Swinehart
Personal information
Full name Dustin Swinehart
Date of birth (1974-07-01) July 1, 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Columbus, Ohio, United States
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Forward
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1995 Miami RedHawks
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2009 Charlotte Eagles 228 (125)
2004Richmond Kickers (loan) 3 (1)
2005Richmond Kickers (loan) 5 (0)
2010 CASL Elite
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 16, 2010

Career

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College

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Swinehart grew up in Worthington, Ohio and played college soccer at Miami University from 1992 to 1995. He finished his college career with 32 career goals, a school record.[1]

Professional

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Swinehart professional career began in 1996 when he signed with the Hampton Road Mariners in the USISL. 1997 he played with the Indiana Blast. In 1998, Swinehart signed with the Charlotte Eagles in the USISL, where he remained, with the exception of two brief loan periods with the Richmond Kickers in 2004[2] and 2005.[3]

Swinehart was named the MVP of the 2000 USL Second Division championship game, and in 2001, after the Eagles moved up to the USL First Division, he was named to the USL-1 All League First Team. In 2004, after the Eagles returned to the USL Second Division, Swinehart considered retiring, but decided to continue with the team.[4] He was named to the USL-2 All League first team in 2005, 2006 and 2008, while in 2008 he was also named as the USL-2 MVP.[5]

On March 10, 2010, Swineheart announced his retirement from professional soccer.[6] At his retirement, he was the Eagles' all-time leading goal scorer and was with the team longer than any other player. He was six time First Team All-League, and was part of two National Championship squads with the Eagles. He finished his professional career with 135 goals.

Swinehart played the amateur team CASL Elite in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2010; his team won their regional qualification group (which also featured NPSL teams FC Tulsa and Atlanta FC) before falling 4–2 to USL Second Division pro side Charleston Battery in the first round of tournament proper.[7]

Swinehart current work for Charlotte Football Club of Major League Soccer as the Director of Community Engagement.

References

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  1. ^ Former Men's Soccer Standout Swinehart to Play in USL Title Game
  2. ^ "2004 Richmond Kickers". Archived from the original on 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  3. ^ "2005 Richmond Kickers". Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  4. ^ "Veterans Still Key to Charlotte's Success". Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  5. ^ "2008 USL-1 All League Team". Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  6. ^ "Coaching Mainstays Go Head to Head". USLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  7. ^ "Charleston Battery". Archived from the original on 2012-01-13. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
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