coaches

As head coach Steve Smucker enters his third year at Bluffton University he will continue to build the program as the team’s take last years improving numbers into the 2005 campaign. The women’s team more than tripled their wins from a year ago with a 5-11 overall record. A young and talented men’s team took its bumps going 3-13, but looks to build in the 2005 season under the leadership of eight juniors and seniors. Smucker acknowledges that a great deal was accomplished.  “I’m very pleased with the progress from last season.  Both teams have worked extremely hard in the offseason to improve their level of play.  In addition to those returning, I’m also excited about those athletes joining our teams this fall.”

Prior to coaching at Bluffton, Smucker taught Physical Education and coached boys soccer at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, located in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.  In 2002 he led Dock to their first ever state soccer title, earning five separate coach-of-the-year honors in the process, including recognition from the Pennsylvania State Soccer Coaches Association, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Smucker’s education includes degrees from Hesston College (KS), Goshen College (IN), and Temple University (PA).  During his tenure as the head coach at Christopher Dock, Smucker also led his team to six district titles in eight years, including the school’s first district title in 1996, accruing a record of 118 wins, 67 losses and 12 ties.

An Ohio native and graduate of Central Christian High School, Kidron, OH, Smucker went on to earn all-conference honors as a player both at Hesston and Goshen.  He is also a fully licensed coach with the United States Soccer Federation and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.  Smucker has extensive soccer clinician experience and is also very involved in his church and community. 

Assistant Coach Rick Nussbaum

Rick Nussbaum has been named the graduate assistant coach for the Bluffton University men’s and women’s soccer teams for 2005-06.

Nussbaum will be entering his twelfth year as a soccer coach and fifth on the collegiate level. He started his coaching career at Goshen College as an assistant for the men’s team. After three years at Goshen he took the reigns of the men’s squad at Hesston College for the 2000 season. He recently was the athletic director at Dayton Christian High School.

Nussbaum played soccer at Hesston for two years as a defender and continued to play his final two years at Goshen as a forward. He received his Bachelor’s degree in biology from Goshen. Nussbaum continues to play soccer and enjoys watching sports that include volleyball and baseball; he also keeps up on the Cleveland Browns and Indians.

 Nussbaum resides in Bluffton with his wife, of four years, Aphaphanh and their son Logan who is two years old.