Head Coach of Premier Development League Affiliate Burlingame Dragons FC
Soccer News: The San Jose Earthquakes announced the club has hired Eric Bucchere as the head coach of the team’s Premier Development League affiliate Burlingame Dragons FC. Bucchere was an assistant coach on Burlingame’s staff during the club’s inaugural season of 2015, which resulted in an 11-2-3 overall record, a Southwest Division championship and an appearance in the Western Conference Final Four. Bucchere was also an assistant coach with the Earthquakes Academy from 2013-15, helping guide the U-16s to a U.S. Soccer Federation Development Academy Elite 8 appearance in 2014.
“With his time in the Earthquakes Academy, Eric has become familiar with the Quakes training methodology and the players that have come through the youth system,” said Earthquakes Technical Director Chris Leitch. “He has the knowledge and coaching ability necessary to help the players take advantage of the opportunity to work their way up to the first team.”
“I couldn’t be happier with the new initiatives from US Soccer,” said Bucchere. “These changes reflect the opinions that most coaches who know the game have had for many years. Smaller numbers, more touches, and goal sizes that require finishing rather than just chipping a ball that’s too high for most kids, are all great adjustments. Also, having worked in the USSF Development Academy for years I see the benefit of standard birth year age groups from January to December. Just more simple for everyone involved. Overall, more steps in the right direction for US Soccer.”
In addition to his role with Dragons FC, Bucchere remains the head coach at Menlo College. In his first three seasons with Menlo, Bucchere led the Oaks to a 28-18-8 overall record and a Cal Pac North Division Regular Season Championship in 2014.
Before his time at Menlo, Bucchere spent five seasons as the head assistant coach at UC San Diego, where here led the Tritons to an overall record of 44-33-14. In 2012, UC San Diego’s defense ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II with a conference-record goals against average of 0.44 and a 0.71 shutout percentage by way of 12 clean sheets in 17 matches played. UCSD allowed only eight goals all year, its lowest total in the Division II era, and maintained three separate shutout stretches in excess of 400 minutes.
Bucchere holds a U.S. Soccer Federation ‘B’ coaching license and was previously a standout midfielder at UC Santa Cruz under head coach Paul Holocher from 2001-04. A four-year letter winner, Bucchere helped the team to a 69-12-3 during his four seasons. The team qualified for the NCAA tournament three of the four years, winning NCAA DIII Western Regional Championships in 2003 and 2004 and appearing in the 2004 NCAA DIII National Championship Game.
A 2005 graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a degree in literature, Bucchere went on to spend two seasons as the head assistant coach for the Banana Slugs from 2006-08. During his tenure, the team put together a 36-7 overall record, qualifying for the NCAA Division III playoffs in both seasons. In 2006, UCSC registered a nation-leading 20 shutouts and led the nation in goals against average while advancing to the NCAA Round of 16. In 2007, UCSC again reached the NCAA Tournament and earned an NSCAA Team Academic Award for 2007-08 (3.0 GPA).
After the announcement of his hire, Bucchere met with BurlingameDragons.com and took the time to answer some questions about the upcoming season and the excitement surrounding the organization.
What attracted you to the Dragons job last year as an assistant?
“The Dragons are a top-level team in the Bay Area, they are affiliated with the Earthquakes, and I get the chance to work with players I’ve come to know well within the Earthquakes Academy and the Bay Area. Any coach would have been honored to get the opportunity and it was no different for me.”
What was it about last year’s experience that made you throw your hat in the ring for the head coaching job this year?
“If you’ve had the good fortune in your life to win a championship, you know how special it is. Being a part of the 2015 PDL Southwestern Conference Championship group and knowing what went into it, and how much fun it was, it’s only natural to want to do it again. When (Earthquakes Technical Director) Chris Leitch offered me the position, it was an easy decision.”
If I am a casual fan or a season ticket holder, why should I be excited that Eric Bucchere is the Head Coach of the Burlingame Dragons?
“I think the fans and I are excited about the same thing. BDFC is a first-class organization in the heart of the Peninsula committed to playing an attractive and exciting style of soccer, while bridging the gap between promising young Bay Area talent and our Bay Area MLS franchise, the San Jose Earthquakes. It’s a dream come true for lifelong fans of the game, like myself.”
What are you on-the-field/off-the-field expectations for the Dragons this season?
“I’m a competitive person and coach by nature and we have a competitive team, so winning is always a goal. But it won’t be the only goal by which we measure success. Between the lines and outside the lines, we want to be a team the fans can appreciate, respect, and be proud of representing Burlingame, the Earthquakes, and the Bay Area. We want to succeed while developing players and preparing them to take the next step in their playing career. We want players to look back and say that those summers with BDFC really helped me grow into a professional.”
