BLUFFTON -- After a thorough, nationwide search, Director of Athletics Quin Monahan has announced the hiring of Gary Boughton as the next head coach of the USCB women's soccer team. He is the third head coach in program history.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Coach Gary Boughton and his family to our Sand Shark family," Monahan said. "After an exhaustive search, thoroughly vetting well over 150 applicants, we've landed a coach with the experience, temperament, and attitude USCB and the Lowcountry will be excited about. I'm confident Coach Boughton will put us in a place to contend for Peach Belt Conference championships and compete on the national level. It's another great day to be a Sand Shark!"
Boughton comes to the Lowcountry after spending the past six seasons leading the Trine Thunder. Under his direction, Trine posted a 57-36-14 record including three seasons of 10 or more wins.
"I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity Quin, Chancellor Panu, and the Sand Shark community have afforded me and my family," Boughton said.
The Thunder reached the MIAA tournament four times and twice made it to the MIAA finals. During the 2021 campaign his team made it to the first round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament, ultimately falling to Carnegie Mellon 2-1 in double overtime.
Prior to his time at Trine, he served as the head coach at SUNY Erie College in Buffalo, N.Y. for five seasons. While there, Boughton turned the program into a perennial regional and national power in Division III of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). From 2016-2019, the team reached the Regional Finals three times, winning two out of three and appearing in the National Championship Game in 2016; finishing the season as National Runners-Up. In 2018, Boughton's team earned a #1 National Ranking for the first time in program history. He finished his career with the Kats with a 64-25-3 record.
Coach Boughton graduated from Medaille College in 2009 with a degree in sports management. During his playing career he played and started in 84 matches while leading the AMCC powerhouse program as captain during his junior and senior seasons. His records of 82 assists and .95 career assists per game still stand at the DIII level to this day.
Following his graduation, Boughton continued his career playing for multiple professional teams over a 10-year span.
"I'm eager to get to work and help elevate our program, establishing our identity as one of the toughest teams in the region to play against."