Goalkeepers don't often get to score goals, but one young goalkeeper realized the biggest goal of his life Friday, as Houston native and Klein High School graduate Tyler Deric was introduced as the first Dynamo Academy prospect ever to sign a professional contract at a press conference at the team's downtown offices.
Deric was one of the first players to get involved with the Dynamo Youth Development System, presented by StatoilHydro, signing with the Academy in January 2007. Deric still remembers the first conversation he had with Dynamo Director of Youth Development James Clarkson.
"James called me on my cell phone and told me that he was starting the Academy and that he was told I was the best goalkeeper in Texas and I would be a great fit for the team," Deric, then a high school senior, said.
Deric, who had already won a state high school championship with Klein as a sophomore in 2005, accepted the invitation to play with the Academy and proved to live up to the hype. The Academy was an opportunity of a lifetime for Deric, providing him chances to work with MLS veterans like defender Craig Waibel.
"Definitely one of the biggest moments of being a part of the Academy was the first time Craig came and talked to the team," Deric said. "It was awesome to know that the first team was so concerned with the Academy players."
Soon after meeting Waibel, Deric got confirmation that he had made an impression on the coaches, getting called into the first team in the summer of 2007, his first of three stints training with the professional squad.
"I was actually one of the first players to be brought in to the first team," recalled Deric. "I was still kind of star-struck to be there, but it was a good experience before college."
After a year at the University of North Carolina, where Deric started and was named to the conference all-frsehman team, he got his second call-up to the Dynamo first team.
"I went to college for a year, and the next summer [2008], I was called up again," Deric said. "That time I was more accustomed to the pace, to the setup, to everyone and how they were going to treat me, and they recognized me a little more."
Although Deric was thrilled about his previous two call-ups to the first team, they were both mere preparation for this third and final call-up during the 2009 preseason.
"The third time I came in to the first team, they put me on trail," Deric said. "This is probably the best I've played out of all three times."
His play during the past month in preseason training, including a scoreless half and three saves against the Los Angeles Galaxy on February 12, has impressed Dynamo goalkeepers coach Tim Hanley.
"Tyler has come a long way; he has a great attitude and works real hard," Hanley said. "He is a good addition to the team, and we're hoping for good things from him."
The combination of his work ethic and approach to the game was a key to success for Deric, as well as the key to signing his first Major League Soccer contract.
"I was really happy when I found out," Deric said. "[Head coach] Dominic [Kinnear] called me in the office and told me that they wanted to sign me. He said it's hard to make it into the league, but even harder to stay in the league."
Deric has now made it into the league, so his work ethic and dedication will be determining factors for his success in the league. He has already, however, become a trend-setter for local players aspiring to play with the Dynamo.
"He knows the hard work is ahead of him" Clarkson said. "Tyler is an inspiration to all in the Academy, and the players in the Academy all look up to him."
With the Dynamo making a committed effort to train youth players and develop them to be contributors at the professional level, Deric hopes he is the first of many local products to join his hometown team.
"It's really a dream come true," Deric said. "Every pro athlete as a kid always thinks of playing for their home team. ... There are a lot of extremely good players in the Academy, and they won't all make it. But I think there are a few that will reach that goal of making it to the first team."
