OLYMPIA, WA – The Artesians announced Friday that Seattle Sounder legend Peter Hattrup has signed to be an assistant coach for the USL League Two squad at FC Olympia. The announcement comes out as USL kicks off league play over the next week nationwide.
Hattrup is a Seattle, Washington native having gone to Seattle Prep and then college at Seattle Pacific University (SPU). Head Coach for FC Olympia Jason Dunn is not only a friend but also a former player and teammate of Peter Hattrup.
“I’m really looking forward to working with talented young players” said Hattrup about coaching in the USL in 2024. “Especially giving them the tools and guidance to try to follow their dreams.”
Peter Hattrup set the single season scoring record at SPU with 26 goals in 1985. A record that would stand until 1992 when Jason Dunn broke it including the single match record during a very unique NCAA match that Peter was indirectly involved from the sidelines.
“Peter encouraged SPU Coach Cliff McGrath to keep me in the game so I could possibly break the school record of 5 goals in a game” said Jason Dunn. “I hit the 6th goal to set the record and immediately was subbed. I was greeted as I came off the field by Peter and he gave me a hug and said that he was the one to tell coach to keep me in.”
“I would call Jason and let him know that the record didn’t count unless they won a Championship” said Hattrup. “Which they did!”
Jason Dunn and the SPU squad would go on to win the NCAA National Championship in 1993.
The two would ultimately play together in the years following Dunn’s graduation at SPU for the Seattle Sounders. Both were on the 1995 Championship winning team for the Seattle Sounders. The two were a goalscoring duo.
Peter Hattrup would go on to have an illustrious pro soccer career spanning three decades of professional outdoor and arena soccer from 1986 to 2001. Hattrup now spends his days coaching and and now as of today with the Artesians in Olympia, WA.
FC Olympia comes into the 2024 USL League Two season having placed in the top 16 in the nation in 2023. The Artesians were the only team in 2023 to beat the eventual Ballard FC USL League Two National Champions during the regular season. Olympia also knocked off undefeated Park City Red Wolves in the opening round of the USL Playoffs 4-0.
“Today there is so much more structure and opportunities at various levels” said Hattrup about today’s playing opportunities for youth and adults. “When I was growing up we had a club team which was basically our neighborhood team then onto high school, college and pro.”
FC Olympia this season features an array of NCAA athletes from around the region including the University of Washington, Seattle University and some out of state colleges like Santa Clara and San Francisco.
“I believe that having Peter on our staff will help enhance the experience these young players will have in learning the professional game and understanding the grind they will endure over the course of their career“
–Jason Dunn
“I am humbled today to see such an amazing group of coaches come together to influence these USL recruits at FC Olympia” said Club Owner Ryan Perkins. “I remember my youth soccer coach Scott Nelson encouraging me to go to Sounders games in the 90’s and happen to witness Dunn and Hattrup win matches at Memorial Stadium with my dad. Full circle today for me.”
FC Olympia kicks off their USL League Two homestand on May 26th as the visiting Lane United from Salem, Oregon come to town at South Sound Stadium, 7PM kickoff.
Season tickets, jerseys and information on the Artesian soccer team can be found online fcoly.com.
