Mason Alumnus The New Face of Chicago Fire

By Connect Mason Sports Reporter Michael Foss
Photo courtesy of MLSnet.com

America loves to root for the blue-collar hero.

We adore the guys who reach success through hard work, determination, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. But why?

Because they did it right, and so did Mason alumnus Denis Hamlett.

Arriving in the United States from Costa Rica at age 10, Hamlett grew up playing soccer in an environment that shunned anything lacking a helmet or a hoop. Though Hamlett pressed on, arriving at George Mason University in 1989, where he earned All-Conference and All-Region Team honors all three years he played for the Patriots.

Hamlett spent the next four years playing professionally throughout the United States. In 1996, Hamlett reached the peak of his playing career when he was awarded Defender of the Year honors for his play with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

In 1997, Hamlett retired and accepted an assistant coach position with the Chicago Fire. This January, the Fire promoted Hamlett to head coach, replacing former U.S. National team assistant, Dave Sarachan.

These are uncharted waters for Hamlett. He is charged with restoring a former MLS Cup Champion back to that lofty status. If that wasn’t enough, Hamlett is also writing history. He is the first black Latino coach in the 12-year existence of MLS.

The obstacles a head coach faces are certainly different from anything Hamlett has experienced before. But he is sure of how to tackle the new challenges. Hamlett has taken his experience as a player and applied it to coaching.

“Being a player, I understood what it took to play at the highest level. I understand the balance between player and coach,” Hamlett said “You need to know how to organize your team, and make your team play for you.”

Not everyone shares the same faith in the Chicago Fire’s new head coach. Many of the Fire’s fans have expressed doubts in Hamlett’s ability. Jeff Donegal, a Chicago native and Fire fan is skeptical of Hamlett.

“He is a new head coach and he is taking over a team that hasn’t been good recently.” Donegal said “[The Fire] need to get back to where [they] were three years ago, and [Hamlett] just doesn’t have the experience to get there.”

Hamlett is not interested in entertaining doubts. His no nonsense approach served him well as a player and he expects it to aid him as a coach.

“It’s still in me,” Hamlett said. “I’m still player. I’m a competitor. I’m a winner, and I expect that same mentality from my players. There is no alternative to losing.”

Hamlett is extremely confident. But don’t mistake confidence for arrogance. When he assembled his coaching staff, Hamlett had specific characteristics in mind.

“I looked for guys that could make me a better coach and a make our players a better team,” he explained. And that’s exactly what he did.

Hamlett combined the veteran experience of Daryl Shore and Mike Jeffries and coupled them with former Fire player and team captain Chris Armas. The result is a youthful, passionate coaching staff to complement an equally young team. “I’m trying to establish an environment where we can be successful,” he said.

MLS is still a very young league. Most European and South American leagues have been established for more than 50 years. So it is no surprise to hear Hamlett say there is still a gap to bridge.

“The league has been around for short time, but we’re competing now and that’s important,” he said.

Current George Mason men’s soccer head coach, Greg Andrulis remembers the grit Hamlett had as both a player for the Rapids and coach for the Fire. “[Denis Hamlett] played hard, real hard.” Andrulis reflected. “He has been able to take that tenacity and earn the respect of his peers and players. As with everything else Denis has tackled in his life, he will be hard to beat.”

Andrulis would know. His Columbus Crew constantly brushed up against the Fire during Andrulis’ tenure as the Crew head coach.

It has been nearly two decades since Denis Hamlett first anchored the George Mason defense. His career has progressed and ascended to a height few players or coaches ever attain. Yet, Hamlett’s persona has not changed. He is still the fierce competitor, still the hammering player he was in college and he is still one of the hardest working men in the game.

When the Chicago Fire step onto the field March 29 against Real Salt Lake for their first game of the MLS season, they will do so under Denis Hamlett’s lead. It will be a shining moment in Hamlett’s career.

Denis Hamlett did it right.