TACOMA, Washington - Sam Zisette's playing career didn't end when he graduated from Puget Sound in 2016. The former All-Northwest Conference midfielder played professionally in Washington, Michigan, and Spain. During those years as a pro, an idea continued to formulate in his head: start a soccer team in Ballard.
 
Zisette, who will be the Loggers' interim head coach for men's soccer in 2023, attended Ballard High School before beginning his Puget Sound student-athlete career. Ballard is a neighborhood just north of downtown Seattle, with a population right around 25,000.
 
While he carried the idea of Ballard FC for several years, devastation caused by the pandemic inspired Zisette to take action.
 
"When COVID hit, I thought now is the time to really work on this," said Zisette. "Coming out of lockdowns, there's going to be a need for community building."
 
Zisette called on former Tacoma Stars teammate Lamar Neagle to help bring Ballard FC to fruition. They then linked up with Chris Kaimmer – a Yale graduate with a knack for entrepreneurial ventures.
 
The inaugural season for Ballard FC was in 2022, becoming one of 122 members in the USL 2 (formerly the Premier Development League). Ballard FC reached the Western Conference Finals that first season, and it wasn't a fluke.
 
The following season, Ballard FC won the USL 2 crown.
 
"I felt pretty good about the roster we were putting together," said Zisette. "But winning a league title is a completely different beast from winning league games [during the regular season]."
 
Zisette and his co-founders have a unique approach to putting a roster together. Whereas most teams try to recruit the best collegiate and semi-pro players from all across the country, Ballard FC prefers to keep it relatively local.
 
A vast majority of the club's players already play collegiately or professionally in the Washington area. For most, the Seattle area is already home.
 
Cale Spence '22, like Zisette, went to Ballard High School before joining the Maroon & White. Spence was an All-NWC honoree on several occasions, and he has been a player for Ballard FC for each of the club's first two seasons.
 
The club's local flair isn't lost among the Ballard community.
 
"Luckily for us, most of our sponsors came to us first," said Zisette. "We work with business owners who love this community and just really like soccer.
"There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes," he continued. "Recruiting, merchandising, social media, community tournaments and events. All of it is made possible by our sponsors and fans."
 
As the calendar turns to mid-August, however, and Loggers prepare to return to campus, Zisette's focus shifts from bringing a title to Ballard, to bringing a title to Tacoma.


 SAM ZISETTE '16



CALE SPENCE '22