Brian Ching is always looking ahead. Houston recently gave him a reason to look back.
From kicking a ball on a school playground in Hawaii to becoming a soccer star, Brian Ching kept looking for what was next: the next opening, the next goal, the next chance to be better.
Looking back? Not so much.
Twenty years after an unexpected move brought him to Houston, the city that became home gave the Houston Dynamo FC legend plenty of reasons to pause.
The honor capped a milestone month that also included Ching becoming the first MLS player inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame and volunteering alongside current Dynamo players and 20 Regions Bank associates for Rebuilding Juntos, a Rebuilding Together Houston home renovation project.
We talked with Ching about family, community, failure and lessons that stuck long after the final whistle.
You arrived in Houston in 2006 with little time to settle in. What do you remember most from those early days?
Ching: I was with the U.S. Men’s National Team for all of January, and we jumped into preseason in the middle of February. Our families stayed behind to finish out the school year, so it was very difficult.
We didn’t know what to expect from the fan base, either. Then we had that first game.
Our ownership group was out grabbing tickets from people to get them in. The stadium didn’t fill up until halftime because they weren’t ready for the rush of fans.
It was a fantastic start. The reception that night really endeared us to the city. Houstonians welcomed us with open arms.
You’ve spent the years since returning that support with Habitat for Humanity, the Houston Food Bank, Dynamo and Dash charities and more. Why has giving back remained so important?
Ching: I’ve always felt the people of Houston have given us so much. I’ve been fortunate to be part of a lot of initiatives and get out into the community and meet a lot of people. Giving back is something I’m very passionate about.
You credit your family with much of your drive. How did your mom and brothers shape you?
Ching: My mom has always been a big part of my life. She’s my role model.
She was a single mother raising three boys. We never really had to struggle because of the work she put in and the way she provided for us. I got a lot of my work ethic from watching her raise us. I emulate a lot of the things she did.
My brothers brought out my competitive side. My older brother was the one I was always trying to be and be better than. I felt he was more gifted. I felt he was smarter. So, I always had this drive to beat him.
It was healthy competition. I credit a lot of my success to my family.
You didn’t feel like one of the best players during your childhood. How did that shape you?
Ching: That feeling of inadequacy as a kid, that I wasn’t one of the better players, drove me to work harder and create good habits.
I would go to school an hour early. Instead of doing homework or playing cards, I was kicking a soccer ball by myself for a majority of the time.
Making those hard choices at a young age made it easier to keep working hard and pushing myself.
Making those hard choices at a young age made it easier to keep working hard and pushing myself.”
Brian Ching
Failure comes up almost as often as success when you talk about your career. What did soccer teach you about both?
Ching: In soccer and sports, you lose a lot. There are a lot of failures you have to get through to be successful.
It’s what you tell yourself in those moments. Is it their fault? Or is it my fault, and I’m going to do something about it?
For me, it was always my fault that we weren’t successful, and that gave me the power to go out and do something about it.
Soccer also taught me teamwork. How difficult it is to build something successful. How good coaches matter and how good leaders can get the most out of people.
You don’t appreciate all of that until later, when you’re put into those leadership positions yourself.
Your mom came from Hawaii to celebrate your recent honors. What did having her there mean?
Ching: It reinforces that you’re doing the right things from the person that matters most.
We’re not the most talkative family at times. That’s why I think physical presence and just being around goes a lot further for us.
These moments give us an opportunity to reflect and talk about the impact we’ve had on each other. They don’t happen very often, so they’re very, very rewarding.
You’ve said looking back doesn’t come naturally. What did seeing your name in the Dynamo Ring of Honor make you see differently?
Ching: It gives me the opportunity to reflect on things. I don’t do that very often.
It forces me to sit back and appreciate the things I’ve accomplished, the hard work I’ve put in and the reasons that have made me successful.
It fills me with pride to see that I became a professional soccer player in an unconventional way.
If I look back, it hasn’t always been easy. It allows me to be thankful for the things I’ve achieved.