WATCH: Florida Tech Soccer Phenom Robin Chan was MVP of NCAA National Title Game in 1988

By  //  May 6, 2018

NOW HEAD COACH OF THE PANTHER SOCCER TEAM




SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME 2018 INDUCTEE: Robin Chan anchored the midfield for the Florida Tech Panthers where during his four-year college soccer career he was a three-time All-Sunshine State Conference selection, and 1st team All-South and All-American selection in 1990.

THE 2018 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 11. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Although born in Malaysia, Robin Chan grew up in Walton-on-Thames in England. Chan’s future life in America was borne at the Sports Scholarship Foundation trials at Oxford University in 1987, where he was spotted by a Florida Tech assistant coach.

To say Chan stood out was an understatement. He was physically very strong, quick, resilient, skillful and imposing.

Chan impressed at the trials and went on to anchor the midfield for the Florida Tech Panthers where during his four-year college soccer career he was a three-time All-Sunshine State Conference selection, and 1st team All-South and All-American selection in 1990.

The capstone of Chan’s playing career was winning the NCAA National Championship in 1988 and capturing the Tournament Offensive MVP award.

In 1988 Robin Chan lead the Florida Tech soccer team to the NCAA Div. II National Championship in California. Pictured left to right, returning to Melbourne Airport are Baldur Bragason, Steve Freeman, Chan, and Bino Campanini. Star defender Dylan Lewis looks on in the background. Florida Tech soccer went on to win a second national championship just in 1991 (Florida Tech Image)

Chan graduated with honors from Florida Tech in 1991 and continued on with a graduate assistantship in the School of Business while earning an M.B.A. degree at Florida Tech in 1993.

He currently remains fifth in assists (40) and eighth in points (78) in the Panther record book. He still remains one of the only Panther soccer players to start every game of his college career.

Chan’s post-collegiate playing career began with the Orlando Lions in 1992-93, when the Lions became National finalists with Chan selected to the All-Tournament team.  He joined the Cocoa Expos of the USISL in 1995, where they were National finalists in 1995.

In 1997 he joined the Carolina Dynamo of the USL A-League, which became East Region Champions and National finalists.

In 1998 he returned to Florida with the Orlando Nighthawks of the USL D3 Pro League, before returning to the Cocoa Expos in the USL PDL from 1999-2005. As an Expo in 2005, he was named to the All-South Conference Team.

While at MCC, Robin Cham built a tremendous winning tradition, including two State Championships in 1998 and 2003, eight consecutive district championships, five regional championships, and five state final four appearances.

CHAMPIONSHIP COACH

Chan joined the athletic department at Florida Tech as Men’s Soccer Coach after ending an 8-year-stint with Melbourne Central Catholic High School as the head coach.

While at MCC, he built a tremendous winning tradition, including two State Championships in 1998 and 2003, eight consecutive district championships, five regional championships, and five state final four appearances.

At the end of the 2003 season, MCC was ranked #1 in the country by StudentSports.com.

He has received many coaching awards including 1998 FACA 3A Coach of the Year, 1998 Big Brother Big Sister Brevard County Coach of the Year, 2003 FACA 1A Coach of the Year and the 2003 Florida Coach of the Year.

Chan was inducted into the Florida Tech Hall of Fame in 2003, the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Melbourne Central Catholic Hall of Fame in 2009.

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Although born in Malaysia, Robin Chan grew up in Walton-on-Thames in England. Chan’s future life in America was borne at the Sports Scholarship Foundation trials at Oxford University in 1987, where he was spotted by a Florida Tech assistant coach.

THE 2018 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 11. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2018 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

THE 2018 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 11.

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS