Coach Dan Burke retires and Assistant Coach Zach Luzzi Name New Head Men's Coach

PSC Alum and Head Men's/Women's Soccer Coach Dan Burke has announced his retirement after 16 years. A 97' PSC Alumn, Burke graduated with a degree in Forest Recreation. He returned to his alma mater in 2000 as an assistant coach and was promoted to head women's coach in 2003. During his 16 year tenure, Burke has coached All-Americans, produced multiple Academic All-Americans, made multiple YSCC Final Four appearances, and also won a YSCC Championship for women's soccer in 2013. Most importantly Coach Burke was able to build a program of respect and integrity. 

Assistant Coach Zach Luzzi said "Dan is a great guy and I attest our program being where it currently is because of him. I wish I had the opportunity to play for him. I think he has been an integral part of Paul Smith's Soccer."

"Coaching at Paul Smith's is surely a labor of love. Love of the game, a passion for the college, and a love for working with you ~ the student athletes. Dan has all the attributes I seek when hiring a new coach, knowing that Dan is a humble soul, and would trust any of you with the shirt on his back." Athletic Director Jim Tucker said. He also went on to say "The players on his teams had immense love, respect and admiration for Dan and Sara. We appreciate what Dan has done and it is our loss.  Dan is doing the right thing for his family and I appreciate his devotion to Sara, Dustin and Brooke."

The Paul Smith's Community thanks Coach Burke for his time and dedication.

Moving forward Paul Smith's Men's Soccer will promote Assistant Coach Zach Luzzi to Head Coach. Zach is a 2010 PSC Alumn and played on the men's soccer team. During his time as a player, the team made it the Sunrise Conference Tournament (NAIA). 

In his first season as an assistant coach the Bobcats were one game away from reaching the YSCC Final Four. Luzzi was proud of this years team stating, "Seeing first hand that our players have the strongest work ethic out of any other school we played. No matter how bad things got through out the season or teams stayed incredibly upbeat. I also greatly enjoy the fact that both teams are more like a family than a team." 

Luzzi is excited and thankful for the opportunity to take over the men's soccer program stating, "The opportunity to be head coach has been a long time goal of mine. I wrote a paper for a negotiations class at Paul Smiths about how I was going to be the head soccer coach and what I was going to do to accomplish that. When I played at PSC, I remember thinking what the soccer program could be and how beneficial it can be to both the school and athletes. Also, we may not have the most talented players showing up at preseason, but, we have the hardest working ones. Through out my time on the other side of the pitch my former coaches taught us that hard work will always prevail. I fully intend to teach the team this and show them that we can be incredibly successful as long as we work for it."