Head Coach Sean Holmes SEAN HOLMES Head Coach 12th Season Carleton (1988)
Sean Holmes was named head coach at Drake in 1998. and is in his 12th season at the helm of the Drake men’s soccer program. Under Holmes, the Bulldogs have posted an 87-95-22 record and have built a legacy of excellence on Drake’s campus and in the Missouri Valley Conference. Holmes is dedicated to the ideal of developing the whole studentathlete. Holmes led the Bulldogs to a school-record 13-5-1 mark in 2008, including six-consecutive shutouts to open the season. Drake finished second in the MVC with a 4-1-0 record and made its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, receiving an at-large bid. The Bulldogs were nationally ranked for the final 11 weeks of the season. In 2007, the Bulldogs posted a 9-6-4 record, knocking off highly touted opponent Wisconsin, 3-1, and forcing then-ranked No. 8 Creighton to a double overtime 1-1 tie. Holmes led Drake to a 6-7-6 record in 2006, advancing to the semifinals of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference championship, which ended in a tie with eventual runner-up Bradley. Drake lost, 5-3, in penalty kicks but showed the grit and determination that Holmes had instilled in his players. Holmes led the Bulldogs to a school-record three victories over top 25 ranked teams in 2005, including Drake’s first win over then No. 16 Creighton to end a 22-year drought against the Bluejays. That victory sparked a four-game winning streak to the end of the season that saw Drake win its first MVC Tournament game since 1997 with a 1-0 victory against Missouri State in the quarterfinal round. Those wins vaulted Drake to a 9-9-2 mark, giving the Bulldogs a winning percentage of .500 or better in three of the previous four seasons after a six-year stint of losing seasons. Drake’s progress also has been noticed at the next level with three players being drafted by the Major League Soccer. Matt Nickell was selected by the DC United in 2004, while Corey Farabi and Chris Hamburger were both drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in 2005. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America also has noticed Drake’s progress, ranking the Bulldogs No. 22 nationally in the
Coaching Experience
Head Coach Drake University, 1998-present Baker University, 1989-93 Assistant Coach University of Evansville, 1995-98 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival, 1994 Univ. of Kansas Club Team, 1988-90
Coaching Honors
NAIA Midwest Region Coach of the Year, 1992 NAIA District 10 Coach of the Year, 1992, 1993 Heart of America Conference Coach of the Year, 1990, 1991
Playing Experience
Carleton (Canada) University Recipient of Jack Vogen Award CIAU Men’s Soccer Finalist Canadian Soccer League - Ottawa Pioneers
Education
Bachelor’s Degree - Political Science, Carleton, 1988 Master’s Degree - Political Science, Kansas, 1990 “I’ve been able to observe Sean over the years as an ODP coach. His work with young players and people is exemplary and will spell success for him as his career journey progresses. Sean is one of those people I really enjoy discussing the game with as he studies the game constantly, has tremendous passion for soccer, and possesses excellent insight into current tactical trends.” Bob Gansler Former Head Coach, Kansas City Wizards Head coach 1990 World Cup Team
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Sean Holmes directed the Bulldogs to a 13-5-1 mark last season en route to Drake’s first NCAA Tournament berth in school history.
NSCAA/adidas poll the week of Oct. 27, 2003, for the first time in the team’s 18-year history. Holmes then led Drake to a No. 25 ranking the opening week of the 2004 season. Drake posted a 10-6-3 record in 2003, which were the most victories since a school record 11-win season in 1993. The 10 wins marked the then most for a Holmes-coached team, with the previous high at nine in 2002 In 2002, Drake finished fourth in the MVC regular season standings to host the quarterfinal round of the MVC Tournament for the first time in school history. It also marked the then highest conference finish in Holmes’ career at Drake, rising from 10th place the previous season. It also was the first of four post-season berths as the Bulldogs finished fifth in the MVC in 2003 and 2004, before finishing fourth in 2005. Holmes came to Drake after serving as the top assistant at conference-rival Evansville from 1995-98. During his tenure at Evansville, the Aces compiled a 47-30-6 record, winning the 1996 MVC championship. The team, which he helped build, garnered an NCAA Tournament berth and a top-20 ranking. Holmes, 41, was born in Switzerland and grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. An all-Ontario sweeper at Carleton University from 1983-87, Holmes was a 1983 Lisgar Co legiate Graduate and a CIAU Men’s Soccer Finalist in 1984. Holmes also won the Jack Vogen Award as the school’s outstanding senior student-athlete in 1987. He played professionally for the Ottawa Pioneers of the Canadian Soccer League in 1987, and began his coaching career with the University of Kansas soccer club in 1988. Holmes was head coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., from 1989-93, compiling a 78-26-2 record, leading the 1991, 1992 and 1993 teams to NAIA District 10 championships. Holmes also served as director of the Olympic Development Program in Kansas for two years. Holmes was named NAIA Midwest Coach of the Year in 1992, and NAIA District 10 Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993. He was the Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1991. Holmes holds a USSF ‘A’ level coaching license and is a member of the Region II staff for the Olympic Development Program. He serves as a staff coach for the Iowa Soccer Association, and also served as age group coach for both the 1978 and 1984 Region II teams. He was an assistant coach at the 1994 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival in St. Louis, Mo. When Holmes discusses academics with his student-athletes, he does so from a unique perspective. He earned a master’s degree in political science from the University of Kansas and began work towards his Ph.D. before being sidetracked by college soccer. At Baker, he taught both political science and critical thinking. During his time at Evansville, he taught world cultures, and every semester gave the capstone lecture to sophomores on “The Clash of Civilizations.” Holmes has taught an introductory course in world history at Drake. “I think being in the classroom helped me as a coach, and gave me a more balanced approach to interacting with my players,” said Holmes. “It has helped me appreciate the dedication required of our studentathletes to be both students and athletes. It’s a given that our kids will graduate. More importantly, we want them to be educated.” Holmes and his wife, Dr. Carrie Holmes, reside in Des Moines with their three sons, Matthew (12), Samuel (9) and Andrew (5).
www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com
Assistant Coach Joe Burger JOE BURGER Assistant Coach Fourth Season UMKC (1995)
Joe Burger is in his fourth season as assistant coach for the Drake men’s soccer program. Named one of the 2008 Top-12 Assistant Coaches in the country by College Soccer News, Burger is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Bulldogs soccer program, including leading team training, coordinating recruiting, scheduling travel and preparing for upcoming games. He is also in charge of overseeing the team’s academic progress which earned the Bulldogs the NSCAA/Adidas Team Academic award for the past three seasons. “Joe is a tremendous asset to the program,” said Drake head coach Sean Holmes. “He is a dogged recruiter and has done a great job connecting with our players.” Outside of his responsibilities at Drake, Burger served as the head soccer coach of the Kansas Olympic Development Program 1990 state team. He is also very active in the Soccer South Soccer Club in Des Moines. Prior to coming to Drake in 2006, Burger was the head coach of Barton County (Kan.) Community College’s men’s program and the director of soccer operations, which included overseeing all aspects of the men’s and women’s programs. Burger started both programs at Barton in 2001 and led the men’s team to an overall record of 64-30-11 in his five-year tenure with the Cougars, earning top-10 rankings in two of the first five years. Burger earned earned the NSCAA/adidas north region junior college coach of the year award in 2005 and the NSCAA/adidas Midwest Region coach of the year award in 2002, while also earning the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference men’s coach of the year in 2001 and 2005. He also was honored as the NJCAA Region VI men’s soccer coach of the year honors in 2001 and 2005. Burger coached five NJCAA All-Americans, two NJCAA Academic All-Americans and 20 NJCAA All-Region players. Under Burger, the Cougars earned conference championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and were Region VI finalists in 2002 and 2005, earning a spot in the NJCAA national tournament in 2002.
Coaching Experience
Head Coach Barton County Community College, 2001-06 Assistant Coach Drake University, 2006-present Missouri State, 1999-2001 Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC), 1994-98
Joe Burger has played a key role in the success of the Bulldogs during his tenure and his efforts were rewarded last season as College Soccer News named him one of the top-12 assistant coaches in the country.
Prior to pioneering the Barton program, Burger was the assistant coach at Missouri Valley Conference rival Missouri State from 1999-2001 and was the assistant coach at Missouri-Kansas City from 1994-1998. He was also the director of youth development and head soccer coach for the Springfield Premier soccer club in Springfield, Mo. from 1999-2001. Burger also served as the NJCAA Region VI and KJCCC coaches’ association president from 2002-2006. Burger played at Baker University from 1991-92 during Drake head coach Sean Holmes’s stint with the Wildcats. Burger was a two-year letterwinner at Baker, leading the team to a No. 6 national ranking. He then transferred to Missouri-Kansas City and captained the Kangaroos to their most successful season to date in 1995 while ending his two-year career ranked 10th in career points. Burger, who is pursuing his master’s degree in public administration at Drake, holds a USSF ‘B’ coaching license.
JUSTIN VORSTER Assistant Coach First Season
Coaching Honors
Finalist for NSCAA/adidas National Junior College Coach of the Year, 2002 & 2005 NSCAA/adidas North Region Junior College Coach of the Year, 2005 NSCAA/adidas Mid-West Region Junior College Coach of the Year, 2002 NJCAA Region VI Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year, 2001 & 2005 KJCCC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year, 2001 & 2005
Playing Experience
Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC), two seasons Baker University, two seasons
CASEY MANN Goalkeeper Coach First Season
Education
Bachelor’s Degree - Liberal Arts, UMKC, May 1995 Master’s Degree - Public Administration, Drake, May 2010
www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com
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