HEAD COACH:

Brendan Murphy

A Western New York native who starred at Williamsville North High School, Brendan Murphy has been a highly sought-after coach at some of the premier institutions in Western New York after backstopping an unbeaten, undrawn NCAA champion in 1999 as a goalkeeper at St. Lawrence University.

“Winning takes toughness, talent, chemistry, and belief,” Murphy said. “My first and most difficult priority is to make sure those four pillars are in place.  We will value possession of the soccer ball.  We will defend to the death.  We will attack at pace.  And players will have the freedom to express themselves creatively with the ball in the right places on the field.”

During a high-rising coaching career, Murphy earned his United States Soccer Federation “A” license and worked as an assistant at the University at Buffalo, Niagara University and Buffalo State College under John Astudillo, Dermot  McGrane, Dave Hesch and Rudy Pompert. He’s been the director of coaching at Orchard Park Soccer Club and the Amherst Soccer Association in addition to working with TOPSoccer for children with disabilities and even fit in two years teaching English literature at the Park School.

Murphy boasts a splendid playing record that includes 41-1-0 career record at St. Lawrence and stints with the USL’s Cincinnati Riverhawks and PDL’s Kalamazoo Kingdom. Murphy also trained in England’s First Division with Millwall FC and Brentford FC.

ASSISTANT COACHES:

Bob Roach
Roach is the reigning 2012 Niagara Orleans League Coach of the Year after skippering the Newfane High School boys to his second Section VI final in six seasons (Newfane won the Class B Far West Regional Championship in 2006). In addition to 2 All-State selections and 14 First Team All-N-O League players, Roach has lead the team to the New York State Academic Excellence Award all 6 years.

Mike Ertel
Ertel, 22, already has a long list of coaching accolades after a 4-year career for the North Tonawanda High School program. The Canisius College student is an assistant coach in the NYS West Olympic Development Program, the varsity boys coach at West Seneca East High School and the 3v3 academy director and U12 Boys associate head coach at Empire Revolution Soccer Academy Buffalo. He holds his USSF National C License and NYSWYSA Goalkeeper Certificate.

RESERVE TEAM COACH:

Hector Vasquez
Vasquez coached in the US Olympic Development Program from 1987-1991 and established an Express program that won two New York State championships. He coached Holy Angels Academy girls soccer from 1989-2001, where he lead the team to a Monsignor Martin League championship. From 2004-2008, he lead the women’s program at Daemen College to its first playoff berth.