Eddie Hawkins

Eddie Hawkins is a former U.S. soccer midfielder. In 1984, he became the first native-born black player to appear with the caps with the U.S. national team.

High school and college

Hawkins grew up in mid-Hudson, New York where he attended Washingtonville High School. He was a three sport athlete at Washingtonville, starring on the school’s soccer, basketball and track teams. However, his talent lay with soccer and he was two-time All State and a Parade Magazine high school All American. His talent attracted the attention of pro scouts and when he graduated in 1980, the Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League (NASL) selected him in the second round of the draft.

Hawkins chose to delay his entry into professional sports and entered Hartwick College. During his four seasons with the Hawks, he went to the 1980 NCAA Final Four. When he graduated in 1984, he had amassed 30 career goals and 10 career assists. He was inducted into the Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.

Club career

By the time Hawkins graduated, the NASL had folded, but the Pittsburgh Spirit of Major Indoor Soccer League selected him in the first round of the draft in the spring of 1984. Hawkins remained at school to complete his degree. During those months, the Spirit traded his rights to the Minnesota Strikers who then sent him to the Dallas Sidekicks. Hawkins decided not to sign with the Sidekicks and remained in Westchester County playing in a local semi-pro league until he took a job as a computer programmer with IBM. He lives in the Chicago area and makes his living in the information technology business. ^{> >}

National team

Despite playing only at the semi-pro level, Hawkins was still called up to the U.S. national team in 1984. When he entered the field for a December 2, 1984 game with Ecuador, he became the first native U.S. black soccer player to earn a cap. ^> That game, part of the Miami Cup, ended in a 2-2 tie and Hawkins was subbed out for Dave Cayemitte in the second half. ^>

External links

• Hartwick Athletic Hall of Fame bio

Category: Living people Category: African American soccer players Category: American soccer players Category: United States men's international soccer players