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USL Orange County SC

Soccer Success a Family Affair for Orange County's Quinn

September 27, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Orange County SC News Release


Want to understand where Aodhan Quinn's love for soccer and drive for success comes from? Look no further than any of his family photos.

The Orange County Soccer Club midfielder is the youngest of six children, and there's nothing like a six-fold sibling rivalry to get one's competitive juices grooved to the max.

The father of this Gang of Six? None other than San Diego soccer legend - and current University of San Diego men's soccer coach -- Brian Quinn. In seven seasons from 1984 through 1991 - the year before Aodhan was born - Brian Quinn led the San Diego Sockers to six Major Indoor Soccer League titles.

When Aodhan was born in 1992, his father was a member of the U.S. Men's National Team, where he earned 48 caps between 1991-94.

"I've always been around soccer because of my dad," Aodhan Quinn said last week. "I was always at games. I was always around soccer, and I loved it. We always have something to bond over, and he's also super competitive, so when we go at it, it's always fun. But there's definitely an extra bond, because I've followed in his footsteps."

Aodhan, who leads Orange County in minutes played this season, is no stranger to winning championships himself. After finishing his college career at the University of Akron in 2013, Quinn made his professional debut with Orlando City in 2014 and helped lead them to the USL Championship. He spent the next two seasons with Louisville City, becoming team captain in 2016 and getting that team to the Eastern Conference finals.

In one year before joining Orange County in 2018, Quinn helped lead FC Cincinnati to the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

"I think I've been lucky in the sense that I've been at some pretty good clubs in the USL and in college," Quinn said. "I've been in good environments. But, yeah, that's the type of person I am. I've always been super competitive. I think that's how I've gotten to where I am. Growing up, I was the youngest of six. I was trying to be better than my sisters or my brother. I was always competing against my dad in soccer or tennis. I've always had a burning passion to win, at anything. Even in training, I try to win everything. It's just ingrained in me. I think it translates to whatever team I've been on, and so far, it's been good."

Returning to California to continue his professional career in 2018 has been especially gratifying for Quinn, who grew up about two hours south of Irvine in San Diego. This season, besides leading Orange County in minutes played, the midfielder leads the team in passes and is third in goals with seven.

"I was in the Midwest since college, so [head coach] Braeden [Cloutier] was talking to me for a few years, trying to get me out here, and I wasn't quite ready yet," Quinn said. "It just didn't line up. Then all of a sudden it did and I came out here and I've obviously wanted to play in front of my family. I think it's awesome. I have a huge family with 12 nieces and nephews, so they get to come up, it's a cool atmosphere for them. It was one of the main reasons for coming, I wanted to be closer to home and be able to play in front of my parents."

Being able to spend time with family means getting a little fatherly advice about his play.

"Oh yeah, my dad has something to say after every game," Quinn said. "But, it's good. He's always been like that. I don't expect anything less. It's helped me in my career, because everything I've experienced, he's been through many times. If things are hard, he gives me words of advice or if I think I'm doing well, he knows how to bring me back down to the ground."

Like so many of the teams that Quinn has played for, Orange County is now thick in the Western Conference playoff race, riding a six-game winning streak and fourth place in the standings going into Saturday's game at Rio Grande Valley (5:30 p.m. PT, ESPN+).

"I think we've shown that we have the quality and the determination," Quinn said. "If you can ride with it, you take it. We're well-balanced now and I think we can win a championship if everyone keeps working hard. I think we're going to be a tough game for anybody."

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