atack attended high school in newark, ca at newark high school, and played soccer for coach harold (hal) bodon. following college at ucsf and san jose state, atack began his nasl career with the los angeles aztecs in 1975. in 1978, he spent a season with the oakland stompers. later in 1978, the stompers were sold to a new ownership which moved the team to edmonton, alberta, canada. atack moved to canada with the team, which soon became known as the edmonton drillers. in 1980, he moved to the golden gate gales of the american soccer league. he also played the 1980-1981 major indoor soccer league season with the san francisco fog.