| Full name | Caribous of Colorado | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Caribous | ||
| Founded | 1978 | ||
| Dissolved | 1978 | ||
| Stadium | Mile High Stadium (Capacity: 76,000) |
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| Chairman | Booth Gardner | ||
| Coach | Dave Clements Dan Wood |
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| League | North American Soccer League | ||
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The Colorado Caribous (or The "Caribous of Colorado," as they were officially known) was a professional soccer team based in Denver, Colorado, that played in the North American Soccer League. Their primary owners were future Washington state governor Booth Gardner and Jim Guercio, owner of the Caribou Ranch.
They played one season in 1978 under head coaches Dave Clements, who was also a player on the team, and Dan Wood. Their home field was Mile High Stadium. The arrival of the Caribous marked the return of professional first division soccer to Denver after a two-year absence caused by the departure of the Denver Dynamos to Minneapolis in 1976. During their only season in the Mile High City, the new team compiled the worst record in the league (8-22) and finished in last place in the Central Division of the National Conference. After the season, the club moved to Atlanta to become the Atlanta Chiefs.
The lasting legacy of the Caribous is one of the most unusual, infamous uniforms in soccer history. Going with a western-style motif, the players wore brown and tan jerseys that included a strip of leather fringe across the chest.
Players on the team included Superstars champion Brian Budd and NFL placekicker Matt Bahr.
| Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Regular Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | NASL | 8 | 22 | — | 81 | 4th, National Conference, Central Division | Did not qualify |