John Dolinsky
Encyclopedia
John Dolinsky is a retired German-American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League
, American Soccer League
, United Soccer League
and American Indoor Soccer Association. He also coached in the American Indoor Soccer Association where he was the 1989 Coach of the Year.
, Dolinsky grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Lewis University
where from 1972 to 1975 he was a four year starter on the men's soccer team. He was a 1973 and 1974 Honorable Mention (third team) All American. He finished his collegiate career with 51 goals and 32 assists. Lewis University inducted Dolinsky into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985. He did not complete his degree before turning professional and returned to school in 1991.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
. In 1980, the Spirit traded Dolinsky to the Buffalo Stallions
. He began the 1981-1982 season with the Stallions, but was traded to the Kansas City Comets
during the season. The Comets released him at the end of the season. In 1981, he played for the Rochester Flash
of the American Soccer League
. He was a first team All Star that season. In 1982, he moved to the Oklahoma City Slickers
. In April 1983, he signed with the Dallas Americans
. He continued to play for the Americans in 1984 when they played in the United Soccer League
. In the fall of 1984, he signed with the Canton Invaders
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. He played two seasons with the Invaders, winning the 1985 and 1986 titles before moving to the Milwaukee Wave
in 1986. He returned to outdoor soccer in the summer of 1985 as a player/coach with the Tulsa Tornados
of the USL. After the USL collapsed six games into the season, Dolinsky moved to Chicago where he played for Chicago Schwaben. He signed with the Milwaukee Wave
in 1986 and played two seasons before retiring as a player.
hired Dolinsky to coach the team for the remainder of the season. In the fall of 1991, he left the Dynamo to return to school, but came back in January 1992 to coach the team. He resigned a month later. In 1995, he became an assistant coach with the Chicago Power
. In 2004, he briefly coached the Indiana Blast
of the fourth division Premier Development League.
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
, American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
, United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
and American Indoor Soccer Association. He also coached in the American Indoor Soccer Association where he was the 1989 Coach of the Year.
College
Born in West GermanyWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, Dolinsky grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Lewis University
Lewis University
Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...
where from 1972 to 1975 he was a four year starter on the men's soccer team. He was a 1973 and 1974 Honorable Mention (third team) All American. He finished his collegiate career with 51 goals and 32 assists. Lewis University inducted Dolinsky into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985. He did not complete his degree before turning professional and returned to school in 1991.
Professional
In 1978, Dolinsky began his professional career with the Pittsburgh SpiritPittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. In 1980, the Spirit traded Dolinsky to the Buffalo Stallions
Buffalo Stallions
The Buffalo Stallions were a soccer team based out of Buffalo, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 to 1984. Their home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.-History:...
. He began the 1981-1982 season with the Stallions, but was traded to 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...
during the season. The Comets released him at the end of the season. In 1981, he played for the Rochester Flash
Rochester Flash
The Rochester Flash was an American soccer club based in Rochester, New York that was a member of the American Soccer League.After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League....
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He was a first team All Star that season. In 1982, he moved to the Oklahoma City Slickers
Oklahoma City Slickers
The Oklahoma City Slickers was an American soccer club based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that played in three lower division U.S. leagues, the American Soccer League, United Soccer League and USISL.-American Soccer League:...
. In April 1983, he signed with the Dallas Americans
Dallas Americans
Dallas Americans was an American soccer club based in Dallas, Texas that was a member of the American Soccer League. It is also the name of a Indoor American Football team.After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League....
. He continued to play for the Americans in 1984 when they played in the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. In the fall of 1984, he signed with the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. He played two seasons with the Invaders, winning the 1985 and 1986 titles before moving to 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 1986. He returned to outdoor soccer in the summer of 1985 as a player/coach with the Tulsa Tornados
Tulsa Tornados
The Tulsa Tornados were a professional soccer team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played for one season in the USL. The 1985 season only lasted six games as the league folded halfway through....
of the USL. After the USL collapsed six games into the season, Dolinsky moved to Chicago where he played for Chicago Schwaben. 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 1986 and played two seasons before retiring as a player.
Coach
In January 1987, the Milwaukee Wave elevated Dolinsky to the position of player/coach. He coached the Wave through the 1989-1990 season. He was the 1989 AISA Coach of the Year. The Wave fired Dolinsky in June 1990. In February 1991, the Dayton DynamoDayton Dynamo
The Dayton Dynamo was a professional indoor soccer team from Dayton, Ohio. The team played in the American Indoor Soccer Association ....
hired Dolinsky to coach the team for the remainder of the season. In the fall of 1991, he left the Dynamo to return to school, but came back in January 1992 to coach the team. He resigned a month later. In 1995, he became an assistant coach with the Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
. In 2004, he briefly coached the Indiana Blast
Indiana Blast
Indiana Blast were an American soccer team, founded in 1997. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues, and played in the D-3 Pro League, the A-League and the USL Premier Development League, until folding at the end of the 2004 season....
of the fourth division Premier Development League.