Jorge Espinoza
Encyclopedia
Jorge Espinoza is a retired professional soccer player from Chile who played in the Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He also coached at the high school, collegiate and professional levels including two games with the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer
in 1999.
of the North American Soccer League
. Over three seasons with the Sting, Espinoza was hampered by knee injuries and did not crack the first team. In 1981, he moved to the Memphis Americans
in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He spent three seasons in Memphis before moving with the team to Las Vegas in 1984. He then played the 1984-1985 MISL season with the Las Vegas Americans
. The team folded at the end of the season and the Pittsburgh Spirit
moved to sign Espinoza. However, the Wichita Wings
also claimed him. MISL commissioner Francis Dale awarded the rights to Espinoza to the Wings on September 26, 1985. In September 1986, the Wings sold Espinoza's contract to the Kansas City Comets
. On June 4, 1987, the Comets released Espinoza. He then signed as a free agent with the Dallas Sidekicks
on November 17, 1987. The Sidekicks released him at the end of the season. He then moved to Canada to sign with the North York Rockets
of the Canadian Soccer League. He played two seasons with the Rockets, then returned to the United States in 1990 to join the Illinois Thunder
of the National Professional Soccer League. He played one season with the Thunder, scoring eight goals. In January 1992, Espinoza signed with the Milwaukee Wave
of the NPSL. The Wave released him at the end of the season.
released Espinoza in the summer of 1987, he turned to coaching the Palatine High School
boys soccer team while waiting for another team to sign him. On September 1, 1990, Rosary College hired Espinoza as head coach of the soccer team. In 1993, he moved to Triton College
. In 1994, he coached the Rockford Raptors
of the USISL. In 1995, he coached the Mexico Toros
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. He coached the team to a 17-11 record. In February 1996, the Indiana Twisters
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
hired Espinoza as its head coach. Over two seasons, he took them to a 27-29 record. In 1998, the San Jose Clash hired Espinoza as an assistant coach. In 1999, the Clash fired Brian Quinn
. Espinosa served as head coach for two games, both victories, before Lothar Osiander
assumed the position of head coach. In 2004 and 2005, Espinoza served as the head coach of the Del Mar High School
girls soccer team. In May 2006, Espinoza became the head coach of the Gavilan College women's soccer team. In December 2007, he was named the head coach of the San Jose Frogs
.
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...
in 1999.
Player
From 1972 to 1979, Espinoza played for Colo Colo in Chile. In 1979, he moved to the United States and signed with the Chicago StingChicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. Over three seasons with the Sting, Espinoza was hampered by knee injuries and did not crack the first team. In 1981, he moved to the Memphis Americans
Memphis Americans
The Memphis Americans were a soccer team based out of Memphis, Tennessee that played in the old Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1981 to 1984. Their home arena was the Mid-South Coliseum....
in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He spent three seasons in Memphis before moving with the team to Las Vegas in 1984. He then played the 1984-1985 MISL season with the Las Vegas Americans
Las Vegas Americans
The Las Vegas Americans were a soccer team based out of Las Vegas that played in the Major Soccer League. They played only one season, 1984 and lost in the first round of the championship that year. The Americans finished their only season in the league with a 30-18 record earning them second place...
. The team folded at the end of the season and the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh 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...
moved to sign Espinoza. However, 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...
also claimed him. MISL commissioner Francis Dale awarded the rights to Espinoza to the Wings on September 26, 1985. In September 1986, the Wings sold Espinoza's contract 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...
. On June 4, 1987, the Comets released Espinoza. He then signed as a free agent with the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
on November 17, 1987. The Sidekicks released him at the end of the season. He then moved to Canada to sign with the North York Rockets
North York Rockets
The North York Rockets were a professional soccer team that competed in the original Canadian Soccer League during its existence from 1987 to 1992...
of the Canadian Soccer League. He played two seasons with the Rockets, then returned to the United States in 1990 to join the Illinois Thunder
Illinois Thunder
The Illinois Thunder were an indoor soccer club that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1991/92 season, the team became the Denver Thunder.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League. He played one season with the Thunder, scoring eight goals. In January 1992, Espinoza 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....
of the NPSL. The Wave released him at the end of the season.
Coach
When the Kansas City CometsKansas 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...
released Espinoza in the summer of 1987, he turned to coaching the Palatine High School
Palatine High School
Palatine High School, or PHS, is a public four-year high school in Township High School District 211. Located at 1111 N. Rohlwing Rd in Palatine, Illinois, United States, a northwest suburb of Chicago...
boys soccer team while waiting for another team to sign him. On September 1, 1990, Rosary College hired Espinoza as head coach of the soccer team. In 1993, he moved to Triton College
Triton College
Triton College is a two-year community college located in River Grove, Illinois, a suburb northwest of downtown Chicago. Triton College facilitates accredited degrees, career-oriented learning opportunities, and English as a second language and GED classes.Over 17,000 students enroll at Triton...
. In 1994, he coached the Rockford Raptors
Rockford Raptors
The Rockford Raptors were an American soccer team based in Rockford, Illinois. The team began in the USISL and moved to the USISL Pro League in 1995. In 1999, the team was relegated to the Premier Development League....
of the USISL. In 1995, he coached the Mexico Toros
Mexico Toros
The Mexico Toros were an indoor soccer team based in Mexico City that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League. They played only one season in 1995. Their home arena was Palacio de los Deportes.-Year-by-year:...
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. He coached the team to a 17-11 record. In February 1996, the Indiana Twisters
Indiana Twisters
The Indiana Twisters were a professional indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League in 1996 and 1997....
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
hired Espinoza as its head coach. Over two seasons, he took them to a 27-29 record. In 1998, the San Jose Clash hired Espinoza as an assistant coach. In 1999, the Clash fired Brian Quinn
Brian Quinn
Brian Quinn, CBE is a Scottish economist and former football club chairman. He is an honorary Professor of economics at Glasgow University. He is best known for his spell as the Chairman of the Celtic Plc board.-Early life:...
. Espinosa served as head coach for two games, both victories, before Lothar Osiander
Lothar Osiander
Lothar Osiander is a U.S.-German soccer coach who has served as head coach to the U.S. national and Olympic teams as well as the Atlanta Ruckus, Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Clash....
assumed the position of head coach. In 2004 and 2005, Espinoza served as the head coach of the Del Mar High School
Del Mar High School
Del Mar High School is a four-year, public secondary school established in 1959 in San Jose, California. It is part of the Campbell Union High School District, , the other schools in which are Branham, Leigh, Prospect, and Westmont. Most of Del Mar’s students come from the Campbell Union School...
girls soccer team. In May 2006, Espinoza became the head coach of the Gavilan College women's soccer team. In December 2007, he was named the head coach of the San Jose Frogs
San Jose Frogs
San Jose Frogs was an American soccer team based in San Jose, California, United States. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played its...
.