President’s Selection: The Original Six
United Soccer Leagues was created in the fall of 1986 with five clubs in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico playing in the Southwest Indoor Soccer League, and a sixth set to begin play the following year. The Garland Genesis won the inaugural title 7-2 against the Lubbock Lazers. The league was also comprised of the Albuquerque Outlaws, Amarillo Challengers and Oklahoma City Warriors. Marcos’ team, the Austin Sockadillos, began play the following year while he focused on launching the league. These six teams paved the way for the league to grow to 17 teams in its fourth season and the addition of an outdoor league in 1989.

The first ever USL league MVP, Nichols registered 47 goals and 15 assists in the inaugural 1986-87 season of the Southwest Indoor Soccer League, leading the Garland Genesis to the league championship. He went on to become a first round selection in the AISA (now MISL) draft the following year and helped guide the Canton Invaders to three straight titles with 19 goals and 12 assists in 77 games. He then returned to Texas to play for the Dallas Sidekicks and the Dallas Rockets.