St. Louis sports broadcaster Randy Karraker once called Doran “the godfather of St. Louis soccer.” It’s hard to argue with that moniker. Since his days at Christian Brothers College High School, Doran built a name for himself in the metro soccer scene and eventually became synonymous with professional indoor soccer in St. Louis.
Doran made his mark on the indoor game as both a player and a coach. He enjoyed an illustrious playing career that spanned 22 seasons, beginning as a 19-year-old rookie with the original Steamers in 1982 and concluding with the St. Louis Illusion (PASL) in 2008. His 828 games played is a record that remains unsurpassed. Doran’s career stats include 415 goals and 529 assists. He was a 12-time All-Star, a three-time All-NPSL 1st Team pick, and the 1996-97 NPSL Defender of the Year.
In addition to being an elite player, Doran was an accomplished coach who guided the original St. Louis Ambush to the NPSL title in 1995. It remains the only professional soccer championship won by a St. Louis team to date. Doran coached the Ambush from 1992 to 1999 (NPSL), the WISL St. Louis Steamers from 2000 to 2001, the MISL St. Louis Steamers from 2003 to 2005 and the current St. Louis Ambush from 2013 to 2016. He was named NPSL Coach of the Year in 1993-94.
Doran is a St. Louis native who was a four-year starter at CBC High School. Although the Steamers drafted him while still in high school, Daryl declined and went on to St. Louis University. The Steamers drafted him a second time during his freshman year in college. He accepted the offer, turned pro, and kicked off what would become one of the greatest careers in history. Doran was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
