2024 Alumni Awards - Ian Gunderson

Ian Gunderson was born in Salt Lake City, UT and raised in the Cottonwood Heights area. At age six, Ian was registered for the American Youth Soccer Organization. Through this program, Ian quickly developed his foundational soccer skills. In middle school, Ian moved up to competitive soccer and loved the challenges that competition offered. In his freshman year at Brighton High School, he made the Varsity Men's Soccer Team. He continued to play varsity soccer throughout high school, and his team won the 4A State Soccer Championship in 1989. He was named the first State Soccer Champion in his school’s history. In the winter of 1990, Coach Chris Dorich recruited Ian to attend and play soccer for Westminster.
Ian's soccer career at Westminster began with him playing center midfielder during his freshman year. He achieved six goals and four assists and made All-Conference for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in his first year. In his sophomore year, he transitioned to playing in the forward position, earning his team sixteen goals and four assists. Ian also made 1st Team All-Far West All-American and led the conference in scoring that year.
Ian’s junior year continued his pathway of success, achieving sixteen goals and four assists. Unfortunately, Ian tore his ACL and missed the last four games of the season. Despite his injury, Ian still made 2nd Team All-Far West All-American and received an Honorable Mention for the All-American Team. In Ian's final year at Westminster, he had recovered from his ACL surgery and fell back into his usual routine of helping his team win. He achieved fourteen goals and two assists in his senior year. Ian led the conference in scoring and made 2nd team All-Far West and 1st Team All-Conference.
After his time playing for Westminster, Ian played International for the Utah Soccer Association from 1994 to 2004. This was a special time for Ian, as several of his teams were made up of mostly Westminster soccer alumni. From 1995 to 2005, Ian and his teammates were named Team of the Decade for the Utah Soccer Association. In 1995, Ian earned his C License from the United States Soccer Federation and coached the Firebirds SC in Salt Lake City, UT from 1995 to 1998. He also had the pleasure of coaching men’s soccer with his late brother for one year at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City, UT.
Ian took a break from soccer in 2004 and ventured into his other passions for seven years. In 2011, Ian returned to soccer as a player, and then eventually as a head coach for BlakPijeon FC of the Utah Soccer Association until 2021. Since 2018, Ian has been working in instrument manufacturing for bioMérieux and spending his time playing golf, traveling, and just enjoying life.