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Bill was induted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2002. McDermott Joined ESPN at its inception in 1979 as the Network’s first soccer analyst. His career in soccer broadcasting dates back to 1970 when he covered the World Cup in Mexico for KMOX radio in St. Louis, MO. He has since reported on every World Cup for various radio and television stations including the 1994 and 1998 World Cups for ESPN, espn2 and ABC and the 2006 World Cup for XM Satellite Radio.
McDermott called the first soccer game televised on ESPN; a contest on October 18, 1979 matching UCLA against Saint Louis University at Washington University’s Francis Field. He served as an analyst and sideline reporter for Major League Soccer on ESPN, espn2 and ABC when the league began in 1996 until 2000. He is still active providing color analysis for the Columbus Crew of MLS since 2001 as well as St. Louis’ newest professional team, St. Louis Athletica of the WPS.
Bill has been involved in all levels of the sport since 1971. In 1997, he helped coach the St. Louis Busch Soccer Club U-19 girls to the National Semi-Finals and his U-18 Busch girls team won the Midwest Regional Championship and advanced to the National Finals in 2002. He received the Silver Boot from the CYC in 1995. McDermott has served as color commentator for the prestigious Dallas Cup for ESPN International. He has also called ESPN’s Italian Serie A games and in 1997 he was an on-air analyst for the network’s Nike Brazil World Victory Tour.
Bill McDermott is a 1970 graduate of Saint Louis University where he played for two of the University’s Championship Teams coached by Harry Keough and Val Pelizzaro. He also played on the United States National Junior Team in 1967. McDermott was inducted into the Saint Louis University Hall of Fame in 1994, the McBride High School Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 as a member of Saint Louis University’s NCAA Championship Teams. Prior to playing at McBride and Saint Louis University, he began his soccer playing years at St. Philip Neri in the CYC Program.
Over the years, Bill has served as the color analyst for the St. Louis Stars of the NASL, a commentator for the MISL and the voice of Saint Louis University Soccer since 1972.
McDermott and ESPN soccer play-by-play announcer Bob Ley received a local Emmy in 1987 for their coverage of the Cleveland Force of the MISL.
Born August 10, 1948 in St. Louis, McDermott is married and has three daughters. He owns a Graphic Design firm in St. Louis, specializing in Logos, Trademarks and Corporate Identity that began in 1976.
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