Virginia Beach Piranhas Feature -- www.hrpiranhas.com
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Matt Busch's first season leading the PDL's Virginia Beach Piranhas has had its ups and downs, but the veteran coach now has his side moving in the right direction as they chase a playoff place with four games of the season remaining. After Saturday's 3-2 win against the Southern West Virginia King's Warriors, the Piranhas are now fourth in the PDL's South Atlantic Division, three points behind the West virginia Chaos, but with three games in hand.
This Saturday brings another crucial game for the Piranhas as they face the third-placed SC United Bantams at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex at 5:30 p.m. ET. Ahead of that contest, though, we spoke with Busch about his life away from the soccer field, and his recollections of growing up around the game.
Q: What is your home town and what brought you to Hampton Roads?
A: My home town is Queens, New York. I came to Virginia Beach in 1988 with the Navy and returned back in 1999 after getting out of Navy.
Q: What first got you into playing and coaching soccer?
A: I first began playing soccer in Roanoke, Virginia at the age of six, and began my coaching my younger brother's team at the age of 16. It was a way to give back to the younger players while I was still playing myself. When I got out of the Navy I wanted to play Pro soccer but that ended quickly during pre-season camp when I tore my achilles tendon. I then had the idea of getting into coaching with the knowledge I had gained through playing. I was hired as the Director of Coaching for Atlantic Soccer in Virginia Beach and when VA Rush came into town and Atlantic merged into the Rush, I became a Director of Coaching for them.
Q: What part of coaching the Piranhas do you best enjoy and what frustrates you the most?
A: The best part of coaching the Piranhas is the chance to work with older soccer players, some I used to coach in the VA Rush. To be part of their development during their youth careers and then see them now, is awesome. The most frustrating part of coaching is waiting for the players to get into town, for the first practice to arrive, because you spend the offseason finding the players, signing the players and all you want at that point is the chance to get them on the field training and playing together. To see what the boys can become within this group of players.
Q: What is your idea of the perfect day off?
A: My perfect day off is heading to the beach with my girlfriend and kids, hanging out and watching them surf while relaxing in the sun.
Q: Do you have any hobbies other than soccer?
A: I like to play golf. I am very average, but a old wise man (who I golf with) once told me, "How can you get upset about your golf game? You don't do this for a living, you don't get paid to play golf, you need to just keep your head down, hit the ball toward the hole and when we are done, know it was an enjoyable day."
Q: If you could have any job in the world other than coaching what would it be?
A: I am very lucky. Prior to coaching I was able to have a great job in the Navy. I was able to give myself and my service to this great nation, to make a difference while serving. Other than what I did while in the Navy I wouldn't want to do anything else but coach. What a great job I have.
Q: What is your funniest road trip story?
A: My funniest road trip story was with a youth team I was coaching. They were U18 Boys for the Virginia Rush. We were in Delaware and at around 10 p.m., one of the players got hungry and decided to heat up a jelly donut. Instead of 30 seconds, we think he hit 30 minutes. He fell asleep and the entire hotel woke up to the fire alarm going off because the entire floor we were on was now filled with smoke from the burning jelly donut. We had two fire trucks at the hotel, all the guests outside in the parking lot waiting for the all clear, while the burning jelly donut was smoldering on the grass below his bedroom window.
Q: What is your favorite food / beverage?
A: My favorite beverage is a Starbucks non-fat white chocolate mocha. My favorite food is pizza.
Q: What music do you listen to before a game.
A: I have a list of songs I listen to on the way to the field. It starts out with some Christian Rock and as game time gets closer I listen to some rap and Kid Rock.