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FC Buffalo named Frank Butcher the fourth manager in club history on Monday, succeeding Brendan Murphy who left to join the Rochester Rhinos coaching staff.
“I am a lifelong resident of the Buffalo area,” Butcher said. “I grew up here, played soccer here, and coach here. I love this town and I love the soccer community here. I am excited to be facing this new challenge in my coaching career.”
Joining Butcher on the sidelines are a pair of former Blitzers. Casey Derkacz and John Grabowski will assist Butcher.
Butcher was an assistant coach at the University at Buffalo for two seasons after four years playing for the Bulls. The North Tonawanda High School product was the second-leading scorer at UB in two of his four seasons, and was Academic All-Conference.
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Currently the head coach at Grand Island High School, Butcher is the two-time defending WNY Coach of the Year. His Vikings are 28-0 in league play over the past two seasons, New York State finalists in 2016 and state semifinalists in 2015. Overall, he boasts a 96-34-3 record as the boss at Grand Island.
“I hope that I will be able to translate my success to FC Buffalo,” Butcher said. “I want to thank the ownership for giving me this great opportunity and I cant wait to get to work with the amazing coaching staff that has been put together. I can’t wait to see what we can do together with this FC Buffalo team.”
Frank has been happily married for 12 years to the Honorable Kara A. Buscaglia, Amherst Town Justice. Together they have four children, Andrew (9), twin daughters Kathryn and Elizabeth (6), and August (2).
Derkacz (below right) was recently promoted to associate head coach of the University at Buffalo women’s soccer program under head coach Shawn Burke. Derkacz was previously an assistant at Slippery Rock and Penn State-Behrend, where he made NCAA Tournament appearances with both programs.
He played in nine matches for FCB during its playoff run of 2012, after a standout career spent between Penn State and the University at Buffalo. Derkacz was an Academic All-Conference player at both schools.
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“I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of the staff at FC Buffalo,” Derkacz said. “I believe we have great support from the ownership and I’m confident we will put together a program here that is competing on the national stage. This team has always attracted top talent and I fully expect that to continue. I’m eager to get going as the Buffalo fans are some of the best, and I truly believe we will put out a product that the fans will be proud of.”
Grabowski’s (below left) 23 appearances for FC Buffalo rank him seventh all-time, as the midfielder played with the club from its inception in 2010 through the 2013 season.
He is now the head coach of Erie Community College after spending several seasons as an assistant coach at Fredonia.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to be back with FC Buffalo and to be working with Frank and Casey,” Grabowski said. “I’m looking forward to putting together a talented, hard-working roster that will be successful and will proudly represent the City of Buffalo. It is very exciting to be able to build on the success and history of the club’s seven previous seasons that have gotten it to where it is today.”
FC Buffalo co-owner Nick Mendola says the staff is primed to build on the success of the previous coaching staff.
“Coach Butcher is in the same class of hard-working, smart, and loyal Buffalo soccer men as Coach Murphy, and the club couldn’t be happier to have him, Casey, and John leading our players,” Mendola said.
“We’re ever aware that the coaches on our sidelines should be representative of an inclusive and industrious city. Casey is laser-focused and tremendous on the training pitch, and John has a terrific knack when it comes to communicating with players. FCB is fired up to introduce this motivated staff to our incredible supporters.”
