RENO – Reno 1868 FC has named Eric Bucchere as assistant coach for its inaugural 2017 season, the club announced today. Bucchere, like Head Coach Ian Russell, brings a strong track record of winning and leadership to the staff.

Bucchere, 34, has nine years of coaching experience on his résumé. He most recently held the head coach position for the men’s soccer team at Menlo College, posting an overall record of 43-23-9 across four seasons, including a Golden State Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championship in 2016. Bucchere also led the Premier Development League club Burlingame Dragons to back-to-back division titles from 2015-16.

 

“I’m very excited that Eric (Bucchere) will be our assistant coach,” said Andy Smith, general manager of Reno 1868 FC. “He will be an integral piece for our team.”

Bucchere started his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of California, Santa Cruz, as an assistant coach from 2006-07 and led the Banana Slugs to a 21-2 record. In the following years, Bucchere held the assistant coach position at the University of California, San Diego from 2008-13. He was later appointed as the assistant coach for the San Jose Earthquakes U-16 and U-18 soccer academies from 2013-15.

“I look forward to working with Eric (Bucchere),” said Russell. “He did a great job with the Earthquakes U-16 and U-18 academies and I believe we will work well together.”

Bucchere played for UC Santa Cruz from 2001-04, where his team qualified for the NCAA Tournament three out of four years. He later played for the Santa Cruz County Breakers of the National Premier Soccer League from 2006-08.

Greater Nevada Field will host up to 18 matches in 2017, with 16 coming as regular-season matches for Reno 1868 FC during their inaugural USL campaign. The USL previously announced that the regular season will expand to 32 matches beginning in 2017. The club will play its first preseason match against the MLS’ San Jose Earthquakes on February 18.