Walter Bahr

Walter Bahr played for the US national team at the 1948 Olympics. He also played on the US team that upset England, 1-0, at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in what is often considered the biggest upset in football (soccer) history, notably crossing the ball to Joe Gaetjens, who scored the US goal. Bahr eventually earned 19 caps with the US national team. After the 1948 Olympics, he joined the American Soccer League (ASL), helping the Philadelphia Nationals win the ASL title in 1950-51, 1953, and 1955. In 1956 he moved to the Uhrik Truckers and helped them win the ASL title that year. During his professional career he also taught high school and coached high school soccer.

Bahr later coached the Philadelphia Spartans (1958-63) and the Philadelphia Ukrainians (1964-69) in the ASL, also coaching the Temple University (1970-73) and Penn State (1974-88) men’s soccer teams. He led Penn State to the NCAA tournament 12 times in 14 years, and was NSCAA Coach of the Year in 1979. Bahr was elected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 1995. He had three sons. Casey Bahr played on the US Olympic soccer team at the 1972 Olympics, while Matt and Chris Bahr became placekickers in the NFL. All three also played professional soccer in the North American Soccer League.