Missouri State

ERIC ADAMS
Soccer, 1985-88
Inducted February 24, 2007

Eric Adams was a four-year Missouri State soccer letterman and starter from 1985 to 1988 and was one of the early stars of a young Bears' soccer program which moved from club level to full intercollegiate status in 1981. The Bears were competing as a Division I independent when Adams came to Missouri State in 1985 after two seasons as an all-conference selection at Kirkwood (Mo.) High. At MSU, he played forward for two seasons for the Bears of coach Frank Dinka and his final two campaigns for Jan Stahle when Stahle moved up from his post as assistant to become head coach in 1987. Adams got his Missouri State career off to a great start as he led the Bears in scoring his freshman season, collecting eight goals and four assists for 20 points as Missouri State posted a 7-10-2 season record. Adams was third on the team in scoring as a sophomore with seven points as he also served as a tri-captain for the Bears. With Stahle taking over the reins of the program in 1987, Adams was the only member of the squad to start in all 20 games for the Bears and he finished fourth in scoring with three goals and nine points as Missouri State upped its victory total again in a 9-10-1 season. Adams once again claimed the team scoring leadership as a senior captain in 1988 with six goals and three assists for 15 points as the Bears went 9-12-1. Following his playing days, Adams stayed on with the Bears to help Stahle as a student assistant coach for the 1989 season as the Bears began play in the Mid-Continent Conference. The 1989 Bears set a victory mark as they won 14 games and logged the program's first-ever winning season in a 14-8 campaign that included a 3-3 conference record.