F.C. Revolution

Erik Burstein will enter his third season as head coach of women’s soccer at Kutztown University in fall 2009.

Burstein led the women’s soccer program to its seven straight season of 10-plus wins, and the second of his career at KU. The Golden Bears finished the 2008 season 12-6-2 overall and 6-4-2 in the PSAC East, qualifying KU for the PSAC playoffs for the first time under Burstein.

KU cracked the nation's top 25 on Oct. 14, earning a ranking of No. 23. The Golden Bears earned the national recognition after winning eight straight games, tying a school record. KU also built an unbeaten streak of 11 games, second-best in program history.

The 12 wins were the second highest total in school history. Burstein's record at KU is 22-12-5 overall and 11-9-4 in the PSAC East.

In his two years at KU, his players have won four All-PSAC East first team and three All-PSAC East second team awards. He also coached the 2008 PSAC East Rookie of the Year. His players have won five All-Atlantic Region honors from Daktronics and four from the NSCAA.

In 2007, the Golden Bears were 5-5-2 in the PSAC East and defeated two top-15 teams. Prior to 2007, KU had made four straight appearances in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Playoffs and was the PSAC runner-up in 2004 and 2005.

Burstein came to Kutztown from Bowling Green State University, where he served as an assistant coach during the 2006 season. An accomplished soccer player, he brings 10 years of coaching experience with him to Kutztown.

While with the Bowling Green Falcons, he worked primarily with the defenders and goalkeepers, which produced the team’s best defensive record in the program’s 10-year history in 2006. The team allowed the fewest goals, produced the most shutouts and had the league’s leading goalkeeper in goals-against average.

Prior to BGSU, Burstein was the head coach at Division III Rutgers University-Newark. Over three seasons, he guided the Scarlet Raiders to a 23-29-2 record. His team was 8-10 in 2003, then the school’s record for wins. The next year, Burstein led the squad to the first winning season in program history, finishing 10-7-1. Prior to taking over as head coach, Burstein served the 2002 season as assistant coach at Rutgers-Newark.

Burstein began his coaching career in 1997, when he coached the Greater Akron (OH) Premier and West Akron Soccer Club under-14 boys teams. He was also an assistant coach at Median Highland High School. He has spent time as director of coaching/player development with the Lakehurst-Manchester Soccer Association (2000-02) and on the coaching staff with the New Jersey Olympic Development Program (2002-06).

From 2003-04, Burstein was an assistant coach with the Jersey Shore Boca F.C. of the United Soccer League: Premier Development League.

An accomplished goalkeeper in his own right, Burstein was a two-time all-conference, all-county and all-state first-team selection at his alma mater, Toms River East (NJ) High School. He was a Mid-Atlantic All-America selection as a senior in 1994.

He has also played professionally, both domestically and internationally. He was a member of the Brooklyn Italians Professional Soccer team in 1991, then played for the Leyton Orient F.C. (English 3rd Division) from 1992-94. He played for the New Jersey Youth Soccer State Cup Champion Jersey Shore Boca F.C. in 1992 and 1994, and earned a spot on the Olympic Development Program at both the state (New Jersey) and regional (Region I) levels from 1990-94.

He currently holds a USSF National "B" license. He also holds USSF National Goalkeeping and Youth licenses, as well as NSCAA Goalkeeping Level III National and Youth diplomas.

He is a 2002 graduate of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, with a degree in communications.