Born December 29, 1959 in Stockton, California. Karen began playing soccer in junior high school in San Jose, California. She continued playing through high school at Piedmont Hills High School in San Jose. During high school, Karen was selected to the first team CCS (Central Coast Section of California) in soccer, volleyball, and badminton. After high school graduation, Karen played soccer at a club level in Jose, Santa Barbara and San Diego before moving to Utah in 1991. After playing with a couple of teams in Salt Lake City, she helped form FC Utah, a women’s team that played locally as well as out of state. During a six year span between 1995—2000, FC Utah won five State Championships, five Nikolai Challenge Cup Championships and two Utah Open Cup Championships. The team traveled extensively to tournaments in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada and New Mexico on an annual basis. In addition, Karen also formed the first O-30 women’s team in Utah which was put together to compete in O-30 tournaments outside Utah. During her playing time, she also served on the Board of Directors of the Association as a Vice President overseeing the women’s league and was instrumental in helping to build new teams with interested player who needed a team to play for. Her efforts were exceptional as that league had been in disarray and her organizational skills were instrumental in the revival of the women’s league. In 1998 Karen began coaching youth soccer with the Firebirds SC and then moved to Utah Avalanche where she is currently the youth director, working with coaches and teams in the younger age groups.
Karen Chin 2014 Hall Of FameBorn December 29, 1959 in Stockton, California. Karen began playing soccer in junior high school in San Jose, California. She continued playing through high school at Piedmont Hills High School in San Jose. During high school, Karen was selected to the first team CCS (Central Coast Section of California) in soccer, volleyball, and badminton. After high school graduation, Karen played soccer at a club level in Jose, Santa Barbara and San Diego before moving to Utah in 1991. After playing with a couple of teams in Salt Lake City, she helped form FC Utah, a women’s team that played locally as well as out of state. During a six year span between 1995—2000, FC Utah won five State Championships, five Nikolai Challenge Cup Championships and two Utah Open Cup Championships. The team traveled extensively to tournaments in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada and New Mexico on an annual basis. In addition, Karen also formed the first O-30 women’s team in Utah which was put together to compete in O-30 tournaments outside Utah. During her playing time, she also served on the Board of Directors of the Association as a Vice President overseeing the women’s league and was instrumental in helping to build new teams with interested player who needed a team to play for. Her efforts were exceptional as that league had been in disarray and her organizational skills were instrumental in the revival of the women’s league. In 1998 Karen began coaching youth soccer with the Firebirds SC and then moved to Utah Avalanche where she is currently the youth director, working with coaches and teams in the younger age groups.
2014 Hall Of FameKaren Chin