Chad Ashton
Encyclopedia
Chad Ashton is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder
who spent one season in Major League Soccer
, four in the American Professional Soccer League
, six in the National Professional Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He coached for ten years at the collegiate level and is currently an assistant coach with D.C. United
.
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1989. Over his four year career, he scored 20 goals and added 43 assists in 89 games. He was 1987, 1988 and 1989 second team All Atlantic Coast Conference
. He is the team’s all time career assists leader.
of the American Professional Soccer League
. The Foxes won the 1992 and 1993 APSL championship. He was the MVP of the 1993 APSL title game. In October 1990, the Milwaukee Wave
selected Ashton in the third round of the National Professional Soccer League draft. However, the Kansas City Comets
selected Ashton in the first round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft and he signed with them. Ashton signed with the Denver Thunder
in the National Professional Soccer League. The team folded following the season. At some point, he played for the Colorado Comets
in the USISL. In the fall of 1993, he signed with the Milwaukee Wave
in the NPSL The next season, he moved to the Wichita Wings
. He saw time in only one game, but rebounded with twenty games during the 1995-1996 season. He continued to play the winter indoor season with the Wings through the 1997-1998 season. In February 1996, the Dallas Burn selected Ashton in the 2nd round (18th overall) of the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He played twenty-three games, scoring one goal. In the spring of 1997, he returned to the Colorado Foxes
for one more season.
hired Ashton as head coach of its men’s soccer team. He took the team to a 9-8-2 season, but left the school to pursue his MLS career. In 1998, he returned to the University of Denver.
During his ten seasons as head coach of the University of Denver
, he compiled a record of 85-85-14. He was the 2004 and 2006 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Coach of the Year. On January 17, 2007, D.C. United
hired Ashton as an assistant coach. In addition to his first team duties, he coached the United reserve team.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who spent one season in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, four in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
, six in the National Professional Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He coached for ten years at the collegiate level and is currently an assistant coach with D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
.
Youth
Ashton grew up in Colorado, earning 1986 Colorado high school player of the year recognition. He then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1989. Over his four year career, he scored 20 goals and added 43 assists in 89 games. He was 1987, 1988 and 1989 second team All Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
. He is the team’s all time career assists leader.
Professional
In 1990, Ashton signed with the Colorado FoxesColorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. The Foxes won the 1992 and 1993 APSL championship. He was the MVP of the 1993 APSL title game. In October 1990, the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
selected Ashton in the third round of the National Professional Soccer League draft. However, the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
selected Ashton in the first round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft and he signed with them. Ashton signed with the Denver Thunder
Denver Thunder
Denver Thunder were an indoor soccer club based in Denver, Colorado that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.The team was previously known as the Illinois Thunder.-Year-by-year:...
in the National Professional Soccer League. The team folded following the season. At some point, he played for the Colorado Comets
Colorado Comets
The Colorado Comets were an American soccer club based in Denver, Colorado founded in 1985 which later competed in the SISL and USISL.-History:...
in the USISL. In the fall of 1993, he signed with the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
in the NPSL The next season, he moved to the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
. He saw time in only one game, but rebounded with twenty games during the 1995-1996 season. He continued to play the winter indoor season with the Wings through the 1997-1998 season. In February 1996, the Dallas Burn selected Ashton in the 2nd round (18th overall) of the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1996 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on March 4, 1996.-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. ...
. He played twenty-three games, scoring one goal. In the spring of 1997, he returned to the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
for one more season.
Coach
In 1995, the University of DenverUniversity of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
hired Ashton as head coach of its men’s soccer team. He took the team to a 9-8-2 season, but left the school to pursue his MLS career. In 1998, he returned to the University of Denver.
During his ten seasons as head coach of the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, he compiled a record of 85-85-14. He was the 2004 and 2006 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Coach of the Year. On January 17, 2007, D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
hired Ashton as an assistant coach. In addition to his first team duties, he coached the United reserve team.