MEN'S SOCCER COACHES

Head Coach: Gary LaPietra

Head Coach Gary LaPietra has returned The College at Brockport to the national spotlight since being hired prior to the 1996 season. The Rochester area soccer veteran has concentrated on recruiting the top local athletes and at the same time has attracted players from Long Island, Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo and the Southern Tier as he continues to put together a quality mix of soccer talent to represent the Green and Gold.
     
In his first 13 seasons, LaPietra’s overall record at Brockport is 129-87-18 for a .590 win percentage. Brockport has averaged nearly 10 wins per season and returned to the NCAA Tournament with an appearance in 2005 that included a 2-0 victory in an opening-round game against Nazareth. The Golden Eagles had not been to the National Tournament since the mid-70’s when Brockport won a National Championship (1974) and made three appearances in the National Championship game.
     
The Golden Eagles have become a fixture in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament since LaPietra took over the reins of the program. Brockport has qualified for the conference tournament seven consecutive years from 2002-2008 and won a regular-season conference title in 2002 with a perfect 9-0 record. After the 2002 season, LaPietra was voted the SUNYAC Coach of the Year.
     
Under LaPietra, Golden Eagle soccer players have been named to the NSCAA/adidas All-Region team 18 times, 45 players have been voted to the All-SUNYAC squads, and two have been named the SUNYAC First Year Player of the Year.
     
Six of the nine major offensive records at Brockport have been set under the guidance of LaPietra. Three-time All-Region selection Anthony Jaworski set the records for goals in a game (5), season (20) and career (60) and also owns the records for points in a game (10) and career (134) with LaPietra at the helm. Greg Dini, Mike Abgarian and Aaron Acello all won multiple All-Region honors and are the top three players on the Brockport record list for career assists.

In 2004, Coach LaPietra started the Brockport Men’s Soccer Tournament to benefit the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong Hospital. The tournament that kicked off the season and raised over $2000 for the neonatal department of the hospital. LaPietra’s son Gary Michael was born prematurely and was hospitalized in the unit for nearly three months. Ten years later, Gary Michael, was on hand to welcome the teams and players to the inaugural tournament and continues to to be a big part of the Brockport soccer program.

Before Brockport, LaPietra was the winningest coach in Aquinas High School history (1988-95). LaPietra coached the “Little Irish” to a 91-49-10 record over eight seasons. Included in the team’s success over that span were the 1992 Section V Class BB Championship and an appearance in the 1992 state semifinals. LaPietra was the Class BB Coach of the Year in 1992 when he led his team to the number-one ranking in New York State. His teams won five consecutive City-Catholic championships from 1990 to 1994 and he was selected as a coach for the 1989 and 1995 Monroe County All-Star games.

LaPietra played college soccer at St. John Fisher, played scholastically at Aquinas and also played in the Rochester Youth Soccer League and Gates Soccer Travel League while growing up in the Rochester area.

He currently plays for Valentino United Soccer Club in Rochester and coaches his son’s Gates Metro Travel Soccer team.

LaPietra and his wife Beth have three children, Gary Michael, David, and Allison.

Assistant Coaches

Michael Domm

Domm rejoined the Golden Eagles staff in 2007 after assisting the men’s soccer team from 2000-2004. He earned a degree in Physical Education from The College at Brockport in 2003 and a Master’s from St. John Fisher College in 2006.

Between 1997 and 1999, Domm played professionally for the Rochester Rhinos before joining the coaching staff at Brockport in 2000. He was awarded the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Most Valuable Player in 1997 and was selected as an NCAA All-American in 1996 and 1997 while playing for SUNY Fredonia.

Domm was also a 1994 Brighton High School All-American.

Domm is currently a physical education teacher at East Rochester High School where he also coaches varsity lacrosse for the Bombers.

Jack Burgasser

Jack Burgasser begins his second season on the Golden Eagle staff where his primary focus is working with the goalkeepers. Burgasser joined the staff in 2008, after completing his playing eligibility in 2007.

Burgasser started his career at the University of Rochester where he started 16 games in 2004 and posted a 10-2-4 record with the Yellowjackets.  He then spent two seasons at Roberts Wesleyan and started 33 of 34 games and posted an 18-10-4 record in net. His 11 career-shutouts with the Raiders stands third on the all-time career chart. Burgasser played his final season of eligibility at Brockport and registered a 9-6-2 record with six shutouts for the Golden Eagles in 2007. 

The Mendon, NY native graduated in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.