In 1978, Handlan played two games each for both the Tulsa Roughnecks and the San Jose Earthquakes of the North American Soccer League. He moved to the Los Angeles Skyhawks of the American Soccer League for the 1979 season. In the fall of 1979, Handlan signed with the St. Louis Steamers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He played one season with the Steamers, one with the Chicago Horizon and four with the Kansas City Comets.
