Amateur and college Waibel was born in
Portland, Oregon, and spent several years in
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, before his family moved to
Spokane, Washington. There, he played for a youth team that traveled to statewide competitions and later
Lewis and Clark High School, where Waibel graduated in 1994. During his senior year at Lewis and Clark, he chose to play
college soccer at the
University of Washington ahead of several other college programs in the
Pacific Northwest. Waibel played for four years with the
Washington Huskies and captained them for two seasons as the team made consecutive
NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1996, Waibel was injured playing for the
Spokane Shadow in the
USISL Premier League, forcing him to miss his junior college season. Despite that setback, Waibel continued to play for the Shadow in 1997 and 1998.
Professional Upon graduating, Waibel was not selected in the
1999 MLS College Draft. The
Seattle Sounders picked him 17th overall in the 1999
A-League draft. He earned a brief call up to the
Colorado Rapids in the early part of the 2000 season, but played 27 matches for the Sounders, scoring three goals. Waibel was selected by the
San Jose Earthquakes in the
2001 MLS SuperDraft with the 31st overall pick but then waived a month later. The
Los Angeles Galaxy signed him soon after as a discovery player. Waibel was part of the Galaxy's run to win the
2002 MLS Cup, making 12 appearances for the eventual champions. In addition to playing for the Galaxy, Waibel went on loan to the Sounders in both 2001 and 2002. The following year, Waibel was waived by the Galaxy and was selected again by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2002 Waiver Draft. He won his second straight MLS Cup in 2003, this time with the Quakes. For the 2004 season, Waibel stayed with the Earthquakes and scored his first professional goal, as well as a goal in the 2004 MLS Cup Playoffs. His 2005 season was cut short after knee injury he picked up against
Santa Clara University in an exhibition game. The Earthquakes relocated and became the
Houston Dynamo before the 2006 season. During the season, Waibel made 28 appearances and scored a career-high five goals. With four championships, Wabiel is tied fifth among players for the most MLS Cups won. In July 2010, Waibel was released by the Dynamo. ==Coaching and administration career==