Heat Tab Richard Chinapoo as Head Coach
August 27, 2012 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
Harrisburg Heat News Release
HARRISBURG, Pa. - When the Harrisburg Heat return to the field in November they will have one of the biggest names from their past at the helm. At a press conference today at Sports City, the Harrisburg Heat Official Training Center, the Heat announced they have signed long-time Heat player and coach Richard Chinapoo as their new Head Coach.
Chinapoo, who coached the Heat from 1998-2002, was signed to a multi-year deal to guide the Heat into their first Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) season. Under Chinapoo the Heat won the American Conference title in 2000-01 which earned him the 2001 NPSL Coach of the Year Award. That season the Heat finished 24-16, a dramatic improvement from their 16-28 finish the prior season.
"When selecting our coach, I was fortunate to have a number of very qualified candidates who have coached the indoor game, played for the Heat and have made the the Harrisburg area their home," said Heat Managing Partner & General Manager David Grimaldi. "One candidate in particular stood out above the rest and that was Richard. His enthusiasm and dedication to a successful re-launch of the Heat, in addition to his tremendous reputation and experience, made him an easy choice and we are excited that he'll now be the Heat Head Coach."
In addition to coaching, Chinapoo played for the Heat from 1992 to 2000 and was inducted into the Heat Hall of Fame in 2001. Prior to that he played for the Baltimore Blast and Dallas Sidekicks in the MISL and the New York Cosmos in the NASL, and represented his native Trinidad and Tobago on their National Team. In 2009, Chinapoo was inducted into the Blast Hall of Fame.
Chinapoo, while primarily a defender, had a break out year in 1987-88 with the Blast when he scored 40 goals. Known for having one of the hardest shots in the game, Chinapoo scored 151 goals in eight MISL seasons.
He then came to Harrisburg where he spent the majority of his career. With the Heat, Chinapoo played 243 regular season games, scoring 101 goals and 129 assists, earning four all-star nods along the way.
Season ticket packages are available through the Heat's official website at HarrisburgHeat.com.
All season ticket plans include a 10-game package (8 regular season games, 1 playoff game, plus one additional game to be determined) with each box seat priced at $160, with centerfield seats at $130 per seat, while seats behind each goal cost $100, and a general arena bowl seat is priced $80. Parking fees are included in the season ticket price.
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from August 27, 2012
- Las Vegas Legends Combine Ends with 40 Advancing to Nationals - Las Vegas Legends
- Heat Tab Richard Chinapoo as Head Coach - Harrisburg Heat
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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