March 4, 2008
(release courtesy of Larry Happel, Central College sports information director)

PELLA, IOWA . . . Colin Kuchy (KOO-chee) has been named women’s soccer coach at Central College.

Kuchy replaces Rick Burns, who resigned following a 10-5-3 record last fall, his fourth season at Central.

Kuchy was in his first year as assistant coach for the Central men’s soccer squad, helping the Dutch post a 14-4-3 record. Previously he was head coach for Mount Zion (Ill.) High School for a year and the Mid-State Soccer Club in Decatur, Ill., after earlier stints as a coach for clubs in St. Louis, Mo. He also spent a year as the junior varsity coach at St. Ambrose University. For 15 months Kuchy was event manager for Street Soccer Cup USA in St. Louis.

“We’re excited to have Colin join us as a head coach,” athletics director Al Dorenkamp said. “He’s made a lot of sacrifices over the years because of his passion for soccer and his desire to be a head coach. It’s an advantage for us to have someone who knows us and been a part of our program step up and take this on. He’s developed relationships across the campus and understands recruiting, and how hard he needs to work to make the program successful.”

Kuchy earned a bachelor’s degree at St. Ambrose in 2003 and a master’s degree in business management at Webster (Mo.) University. He was a four-year starter at St. Ambrose and served as a team co-captain his senior season. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Kuchy attended high school in Nashville, Tenn., where he played in three state tournaments and also gained extensive club experience.

“I’m extremely excited about this,” Kuchy said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to continue building the program and to bring it to new heights. I’m thankful that I’ve been given the opportunity to be in this position and to be a part of the Central athletics program.”

Kuchy noted that last fall’s .638 winning percentage was the highest in the 13-year history of the women’s program.

“We want to continue building on the success the team had this past year and make the program a perennial winner,” he said. “There’s definitely a lot of potential on the squad. I know that the players want to work hard and achieve great things. They have a great athletic department staff behind them to give them the tools to be successful and Central has a great academic program, which will help attract recruits.”

While enthused about his new position, Kuchy said it’s difficult to leave coach Garry Laidlaw and the Central men’s squad, particularly the young reserves with whom he worked closely.

“I’m extremely grateful to Garry for bringing me to Central and for being able to work with the men’s program,” he said. “It will be great to watch and see the success they have in the future. It’s a big bonus that I’ll still be able to pick Garry’s brain and continue to use his expertise.”

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