22 Facts About Pittsburgh River Hound
Ashley | 09 - 06 - 2021
Updated: June 9, 2021 11:00 pm IST
Do you know that the Pittsburgh RiverHounds are the only Pittsburgh soccer team to last for 2 decades? Discover 22 Pittsburgh RiverHound now!
Pittsburgh River Hound facts
- Justin Evans was the first player to be drafted
- John Kowalski was the first head coach
- Paul Child was the first assistant coach
- Their logo honors the official seal of Pittsburgh and the numerous bridges of the city
- The players and staff join schools as substitute gym teachers for a day to promote soccer
Find out the remaining 17 facts about Pittsburgh RiverHounds in the quiz
1. What Was the Original Name of ‘The Hounds’?
The team changed their name from ‘River Dogs’ to ‘RiverHounds’ because a minor soccer league had already registered themselves as ‘ Charleston RiverDogs’ earlier.
2. Which Was the Team’s First Stadium?
The Hounds inaugural match was held in the stadium of Bethel Park Highschool. They also played in Moon Area and Chartiers Valley High School stadium before getting one of their own.
3. When Was the Pittsburgh RiverHounds Founded?
The Pittsburgh Phantoms lasted a year, the Spirits played 7 seasons while the Pittsburgh RiverHounds is the only Pittsburgh team going strong even after 2 decades.
4. Who Founded the Pittsburgh River Hound?
Paul Heasley, a Belle Vernon native, founded the club in 1998 and the team played their first official match in 1999.
5. Who Owns Pittsburgh Riverhounds Now?
Tuffy Shallenberger, a general contractor, holding Shallenberger Construction.Inc took over the general company management of the Hounds and the Highmark Stadium in 2013.
6. Where Do Pittsburgh Riverhounds Play Now?
The Pittsburgh RiverHounds currently play in the Highmark stadium and is the third USL pro division team to get a stadium of its own. The 5000 seat stadium has a FIFA-certified synthetic turf as well.
7. When Did Highmark Stadium Open?
The $10.2 million stadium was wholly funded by private investors and sponsors such as Highmark, Trib Total Media, and #1 Cochran while Highmark has held on to the naming rights.
8. When Was the First Play-Off Held?
The Hounds participated in play-offs since 1999 but the first play-off in their own stadium happened in 2018 against Bethlehem Steel FC and outscored the game with 6-2.
9. John Kowalski Also Coached ______
John Kowalski, a Polish coach, trained several MLS teams before joining as the head coach of the Hounds in 1999. Though he had provided strong ground for the team he was fired in 2001.
10. Who Holds the Record for Playing Most Games in the Team?
David Flavius has played 183 games from 1999-2006 for the Hounds and holds the record of playing the most games with the team.
11. Who Holds the Record for Scoring the Most Goals in the Team?
Yet another record held by Flavius for scoring 58 goals for the Hounds. He was also enshrined in the Pittsburgh Hounds Hall of Fame.
12. What Is the Jersey Color of the Hounds?
The Pittsburgh RiverHounds had four logo changes. Their first and second logos were in red and brown from 1999-2006, blue and black from 2008-2017 before settling on the gold and black theme.
13. What League Is the Pittsburgh RiverHounds In?
The Pittsburgh RiverHounds SC is a pro-division United Soccer League (USL) team. The club joined the Eastern Conference of the second-tier American soccer leagues.
14. When Was the Pittsburgh River Hound Hall of Fame Established?
The Pittsburgh Hounds tweeted a new secondary logo to inaugurate their Hall of Fame as they entered their 20th anniversary under the coaching of Bob Liley on 19th February 2019 to honor its long history.
15. The Pittsburgh River Hound Hall of Fame Enshrined _____
The first members to be enshrined in the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame after its inauguration are John Kowalski, David Flauvis, Justin Evans, David Kasper, and Paul Heasley.
16. Will the Hounds Join an MLS Team?
Though the Hounds have shown their intentions of joining the MLS teams by 2023 in 2013, The MLS has not commented nor shown any interest in the announcement.
17. How Much Does a Hounds Game Ticket Cost?
Though the Hounds give a quality game to viewers, they are still not the first name that comes to the mind of soccer fans making the team a mediocre establishment despite their rich game.
