Goalkeeping coach to reunite with Keller

Olympia's Dutra joins Sounders FC

By Aaron Wasser | For The Olympian • Published December 30, 2008

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When the Seattle Sounders FC makes its Major League Soccer debut in March, there will be a definite South Sound feel to the team - at least in the net.

The Sounders announced Monday that Olympia’s Tom Dutra will join the team as goalkeeper coach. His student, through three years older than him, is Lacey native and internationally renowned goalie Kasey Keller.

“Obviously he’s world class,” Dutra said of Keller. “And for any of us, to be professional in this sport, especially from this country, is really something. The fact that we’re both from this area makes it just that much more special.”

Dutra, 36, and Keller, 39, have known each other for about 25 years and trained together for most of them. Dutra attended Timberline High School; Keller is from North Thurston.

Dutra said this will be a typical player-coach dynamic despite his close relationship with Keller.

“We both know he’s got a job to do and I’ve got a job to do,” Dutra said. “At the end of the day we’ll get it done. I obviously respect what he does and he respects what I do.

“I know he’s excited for it. We go way back so we look forward to working together.”

Dutra has spent his life in soccer and almost everything he has accomplished has been done in his hometown.

He was a four-time, first team all-league selection at Timberline and was in goal as a senior the last time the Blazers qualified for the state tournament in 1991. His younger sister, Jody, was an even bigger star for the Blazers. The 1992 graduate ended her high school career as the state’s all-time leading scorer.

Tom Dutra’s playing career was derailed by a broken right leg in 1992 and a comeback attempt in 1997 ended when he broke his left leg. While he was active, Dutra spent four seasons in the USL, a precursor to the MLS, with the previous incarnation of the Seattle Sounders before making stops with teams in New Orleans and Lehigh Valley (Pa.).

A back injury ended his playing days for good and he began his successful run as a coach.

He was the goalkeeping director for Washington Premier FC from 2001-06 and then held the same position with South Sound’s Blackhills FC from 2001-08. He said he’ll have to cut back on his duties with Blackhills, but still hopes to contribute some time to the team.

Dutra also served as director of goalkeeping for Washington ODP (Olympic Development Program) in 2008 and served on the ODP staff from 2002-06.

Dutra also has had stints as an assistant coach at Pacific Lutheran (2002-06), Saint Martin’s (2007-08) and with the USL Sounders the past two seasons under then-head coach and current Sounders FC top assistant Brian Schmetzer.

His new Sounders team, which opens camp Jan. 19 and begins the season March 19 against the visiting New York Red Bulls on ESPN2, is happy to have him.

“We welcome Tom Dutra to our staff,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said in a release. “He is a respected goalkeeper coach with great local connections.”

Dutra’s job with the USL Sounders has gotten him used to the Olympia-to-Seattle commute, but he said he still plans to find a temporary home in the Seattle area. He says that one day he’ll probably have to locate his wife Molli and children Tanner and Maggie to the Emerald City, but he hopes to keep everyone in South Sound as long as possible.

“I love Olympia and Thurston County,” he said. “My family and I have a very strong connection to this area and we always will.”