Otto Orf

Otto Orf’s first experiment with soccer was when, as a sophomore, he tried out to be the goalkeeper for the Iroquois High School team. Well, his experiment worked, and by his senior season he was the team’s most valuable player.

His 21-year professional soccer career started when, as a student athlete at the University at Buffalo, he decided to leave UB to turn professional with the Buffalo Storm of the United Soccer League. Orf played on many pro teams after his season with the Storm before settling in with the Cleveland Crunch/Force (1989-2004 MISL, NPSL).

As a professional, he was one of the most recognized goalkeepers in the history of pro indoor soccer as part of the Cleveland franchise, winning three NPSL championships during his career.

In addition to his experience with Cleveland, he was a member of the US National Futsal Team in Championship competitions in Guatemala (1996), Costa Rica (2000) and Anaheim, CA (2003). He was awarded the 1996 goalkeeper of the tournament trophy in Guatemala as the US won the gold medal and qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Spain. In total, his teams won 4 indoor and 2 outdoor championships, and a Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Futsal title.

In addition to being a standout athlete, Orf also founded Heart & Sole Futsal Academy and Hands on Sports Foundation which brings shoes, balls, equipment and facilities to underprivileged youth in NE Ohio and in at least 12 other countries.

Futsal is a modified form of soccer played with five players per side on a smaller, typically indoor, field.

Orf was named goalkeeper coach and assistant coach of US Men’s Futsal National Team (2019). He competed (as a coach) in the 2021 CONCACAF Championship (Guatemala City) taking a silver medal to qualify for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup, and competed again as a coach in the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup (Lithuania).