Denis Hamlett

Denis Hamlett (born January 9, 1969 in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica is a former American soccer defender and currently the head coach of Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer.

Playing career

Denis Hamlett began his amateur career playing collegiate soccer for George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where he earned All-Colonial Athletic Association and All-Region accolades during his three seasons of play.

Hamlett then started his professional career in 1992, splitting his time between indoor and outdoor soccer leagues--first for the Harrisburg Heat of the NPSL and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of APSL. Then from 1994-95, he played indoor soccer for the Anaheim Splash of the CISL. In 1996, Hamlett was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the second round, 12th overall in Major League Soccer's inaugural draft. His stellar play continued with Colorado, where he won the BIC Tough Defender of the Year award.

Coaching career

Following his retirement from professional play in 1997, Hamlett attained his coaching license from U.S. Soccer. In 1998, Hamlett joined the coaching staff of the Chicago Fire.

He then served as an assistant coach during the U.S. Project-40 squad's visit to Portugal.

Hamlett continued his coaching duties with the Chicago Fire, becoming the top assistant coach in 2001. Upon dismissal of former head coach Dave Sarachan, Hamlett received interim head coaching duties on June 20, 2007, but resumed assistant coaching duties following the arrival of Juan Carlos Osorio. Orsorio has since resigned take on the head coach job at the New York Red Bulls, and Hamlett was hired as the head coach.

Links

• http://web.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t100&player=hamlett_denis
• http://www.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20070620&content_id=100136&vkey=pr_chf&fext=.jsp&team=t100