Dennis Chin

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Dennis Chin

| image = ChinRichmond2019.jpg

| caption = Chin playing for the Richmond Kickers 2019

| fullname = Dennis Chin

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|6|4}}

| birth_place = Kingston, Jamaica

| height = {{height|m=1.85}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| collegeyears1 = 2005–2009

| college1 = Rollins

| collegecaps1 = 62

| collegegoals1 = 22

| years1 = 2005–2010

| clubs1 = Central Florida Kraze

| caps1 = 56

| goals1 = 10

| years2 = 2011–2014

| clubs2 = Orlando City

| caps2 = 84

| goals2 = 22

| years3 = 2013

| clubs3 = → San Antonio Scorpions (loan)

| caps3 = 5

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2015

| clubs4 = Arizona United

| caps4 = 20

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2016

| clubs5 = Ottawa Fury FC

| caps5 = 15

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2016–2017

| clubs6 = Ironi Nesher

| caps6 = 29

| goals6 = 5

| years7 = 2018

| clubs7 = Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

| caps7 = 5

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2019

| clubs8 = Richmond Kickers

| caps8 = 23

| goals8 = 5

| medaltemplates =

| pcupdate = 21 October 2019

}}

Dennis Chin (born 4 June 1987) is a Jamaican former professional footballer who played as a forward, notably for Orlando City SC. He is currently the President of Global Soccer at Young Money APAA Sports,{{Cite web |last=orlandocitysc |title=Honor Thy History: Dennis Chin takes his Orlando soccer roots to a global stage {{!}} Orlando City |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/honor-thy-history-dennis-chin-takes-his-orlando-soccer-roots-to-a-global-stage |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=orlandocitysc |language=en}} an agency led by rapper Lil' Wayne and Adie Von Gontard, whose great grandfather founded Anheuser-Busch.{{Cite web |last=Issa |first=Mat |title=The Life Of A Sports Agent In 2023 With Adie von Gontard |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/matissa/2023/01/05/the-life-of-a-sports-agent-in-2023-with-adie-von-gontard/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Club career

=Youth and College=

Chin was born in Kingston, Jamaica to a Jamaican mother and a Chinese Jamaican father. He moved to the US when he was ten and attended Oviedo High School, before playing college soccer at Rollins College from 2005 through 2009. He scored 7 goals and 3 assists in each of his junior and senior years (2008 and 2009).{{cite web |url=http://www.rollinssports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19500&ATCLID=3744571 |title=Dennis Chin - Rollins College Athletics - RollinsSports.com |publisher=rollinssports.com |accessdate=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002431/http://www.rollinssports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19500&ATCLID=3744571 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} During his time at Rollins, he also played for the Central Florida Kraze of the USL Premier Development League from 2005 to 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/index.html?article_id=107 |title=Orlando City Soccer Club: News |publisher=orlandocitysoccer.com |accessdate=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503013631/http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/index.html?article_id=107 |archive-date=3 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}

=Orlando City=

File:DennisChin13.jpg

Chin signed with Orlando City of the USL Professional Division in 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/513560.html |title=Orlando City Signs Valentino |access-date=6 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313083527/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/513560.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} He made his professional debut on 14 May 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.{{cite web |url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+Elements/Display+E+47107+Stats/+2175625 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715180100/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+Elements/Display+E+47107+Stats/+2175625 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |publisher=uslpro.uslsoccer.com |accessdate=2 May 2014 }} He then scored a goal and provided two assists in their first round match in the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, in a 4–0 win over ASC New Stars.{{cite web |url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/536195.html |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |publisher=uslpro.uslsoccer.com |accessdate=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075249/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/536195.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} After spending the early portion of the 2011 season learning Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath's system, Chin came alive in the later part of the campaign and became known as the super-sub. As a result, the speedster ended his rookie season with four goals, two of which came during the Lions' memorable three-game playoff run, which saw the club secure its first USL PRO Championship.

In December 2011, Orlando signed Chin to a contract extension through the 2014 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/index.html?article_id=599 |title=Orlando City Soccer Club: News |publisher=orlandocitysoccer.com |accessdate=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503012804/http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/index.html?article_id=599 |archive-date=3 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Moving into his second season, Chin's confident play towards the end of his rookie year certainly carried over into his second term with the club. Dennis transitioned from his super-sub role, held in year one, to become the primary goal-scorer for the Lions. Chin's first goal came just three minutes into their first game of the season against the Charlotte Eagles and would set the tone for the kind of year he was about to embark on.

All season long, Chin's pace and finishing ability caused problems for opposing teams' back lines and led to the striker scoring 11 goals during league play, which was a team record. Those 11 goals were also good for the best in the league and saw Chin finish as USL Golden Boot and Scoring Champion (27 points) of the USL Pro in only his second season as a professional.{{Cite web |author=USLLeagueOne com Staff |date=2019-01-07 |title=Kickers Sign Former Championship Golden Boot Chin |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/982683-kickers-sign-former-championship-golden-boot-chin |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=USL League One |language=en-us}} In addition, Chin also notched three assists during league play and also scored in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup against Major League Soccer Club Sporting Kansas City.

Chin's impressive play led to the Oviedo native being named to the USL Pro All-League first team, while also being nominated for USL Pro Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Central Florida Athlete of the Year. Dennis also accepted invitations to train with MLS sides Chicago Fire and D.C. United during the 2012 off-season.

In his third year with Orlando City, Chin was once again an integral part of the Lions' Championship run. After notching five goals and five assists in the regular season, Chin was lethal in the playoffs and recorded four goals and three assists, in three games played, leading the USL Pro playoffs in both categories. Two of those four goals were scored in the USL Pro Championship match and helped Orlando City secure its second USL Pro title, after being upset by the Wilmington Hammerheads in the year prior. He left the club upon the conclusion of the 2014 season, before the club's transition to Major League Soccer.{{cite web |url=http://baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2014/9/16/_13_orlando_city_pla.html |title=13 Orlando City players released as part of Major League Soccer transition |last=Radcliffe |first=Jeff |date=16 September 2014 |website= |publisher=Bright House Sports Network |accessdate=22 December 2014}}

=Arizona United=

After exploring some opportunities in Europe, Chin ultimately signed with another USL team, Arizona United SC.{{cite web |url=http://arizonaunited.com/arizona-united-soccer-club-signs-former-usl-champion-leading-goal-scorer-dennis-chin/ |title=Arizona United Soccer Club Signs Former USL Champion & Leading Goal Scorer Dennis Chin |work=Arizona United |access-date=10 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414131557/http://arizonaunited.com/arizona-united-soccer-club-signs-former-usl-champion-leading-goal-scorer-dennis-chin/ |archive-date=14 April 2015 |url-status=dead }} He ended up scoring in the first two matches of 2015.

=Ottawa Fury=

In December 2015, Chin signed with Canadian NASL club Ottawa Fury FC.{{cite web |title=Fury adds trio of new faces to 2016 roster |url=http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/12/18/fury-adds-trio-of-new-faces-to-2016-roster |publisher=Ottawa Sun |accessdate=27 August 2016}} Playing in multiple different positions, Chin scored one goal for Ottawa in 17 appearances in all competitions, including seven starts.

=Ironi Nesher=

On August 26, 2016, he was transferred to recently promoted Israeli second division club Ironi Nesher.{{cite web |title=Dennis Chin transfers from Ottawa Fury to Israeli second division |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/news/dennis-chin-transfers-ottawa-fury-israeli-second-division |publisher=FourFourTwo |accessdate=27 August 2016 |archive-date=31 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831051350/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/news/dennis-chin-transfers-ottawa-fury-israeli-second-division |url-status=dead }} He helped Nesher to avoid relegation, leading the club in goals and assists.

=Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC=

On February 23, 2018, Chin joined the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of the United Soccer League.{{cite web |url=http://www.riverhounds.com/news_article/show/890159?referrer_id=2869741 |title=Riverhounds SC signs forward Dennis Chin |website=riverhounds.com |publisher=Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC |date=February 23, 2018 |accessdate=February 26, 2018}} After missing the start of the year with injury, Chin helped the Riverhounds to the 2018 USL Championship Playoffs.

=Richmond Kickers=

On January 7, 2019, Chin joined the Richmond Kickers of the USL League One as a player/assistant coach.{{cite web | url=https://www.richmondkickers.com/news_article/show/982649 | title=Show }}

Personal life

Chin's great grandparents came from Guangdong, China and they are Hakka.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} His last name is the Hakka variant of 陈 (corresponding to the Cantonese Chan and Mandarin Chen). After retiring from professional soccer, Chin started his own Sports Agency, CHYN, that was acquired by Young Money APAA Sports in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Young Money APAA Soccer |url=https://www.youngmoneyapaasoccer.com/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=YM APAA Soccer |language=en}}