In The Public Eye: Tim Mulqueen

A little more than a year and a half ago, Lakewood Ranch resident Tim Mulqueen had a vision to bring youth and national athletics to the East County.

The former professional soccer player and current Clearwater Chargers at Lakewood Ranch U12 boys soccer coach and Under-20 Men’s national team goalkeeper coach put his vision in writing. He took that vision to Schroeder-Manatee Ranch President and CEO Rex Jensen; and in January 2011, Mulqueen was named the new director of sports.

As the director of sports, Mulqueen oversees the operations of the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch, a 22-field sports complex. He also has been instrumental in drawing a wide variety of sporting events to the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch, including the Manatee County Cross Country Championships, the 3d Blue Chip Lacrosse national recruiting camp, the Labor Day Nike Cup Soccer Tournament and the 2011 Development Academy Winter Showcase and Nike International Friendlies, among numerous others.

Mulqueen began playing soccer when he was 13 years old. At the time, his coached forced him to try out for the goalkeeper position. It didn’t take long for Mulqueen to develop a passion for the position.

Prior to being named the director of sports, Mulqueen served as a Major League Soccer coach in New York and Kansas City from 1996-2004 and also helped coach the under-17 national team and the U.S. Olympic team that went to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Mulqueen also is the author of “The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper.” He resides in Lakewood Ranch with his wife Kathleen, son Trevor and daughter Cate.