J.L. Zapushek Named Eureka College Men's Soccer Coach
EUREKA, Ill. – J.L. Zapushek has been named the head coach of the Eureka College men's soccer program, according to an announcement from Eureka Director of Athletics Paul Bryant on Friday. Zapushek had served as the interim head coach of the Red Devils since Sept. 28, 2010.
After being promoted to interim head coach on Sept. 28, Zapushek guided the Red Devils to a 4-6-1 record in the final 11 games of the season, the best 11-game stretch in the four-year history of the program. His first three games resulted in the first three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) in program history. Included in that streak was a 1-1 draw with SLIAC power Fontbonne at Traister Field on Oct. 2, a team that had outscored the Red Devils 16-0 in three previous meetings since 2007.
Eureka's production at both ends of the pitch saw significant improvement after Zapushek's promotion in late September. The Red Devils averaged 2.10 goals during the final 11 contests, up nearly a full goal per game from the 1.22 goals scored on average during the first nine matches. Defensively, Eureka yielded 2.45 goals per game under Zapushek's watch, compared to 4.56 goals per game during the first nine matches of the season.
The Peoria, Ill. native owns more than two decades of coaching experience as a youth club coach and is the only remaining coach to have been a part of the Eureka program since the Red Devils began fielding a team at the club level in 2006. While serving as an assistant coach to both the Eureka men's and women's soccer programs, Zapushek played a large role as an assistant in helping the Eureka women's soccer team post a 7-10-0 record in its first year at the NCAA Division III level in 2007. Eureka's .412 winning percentage was easily the highest among seven first-year Division III women's programs that season. He was ultimately elevated to assistant head coach of the Eureka women's soccer team in 2009.
"I am more than happy to remove the interim label from J.L. Zapushek's title and make him the head coach of our men's soccer program," Bryant said. "The progress our student-athletes showed after his promotion was a testament to his coaching style and hard work. We're excited to see the men's soccer team continue to improve in its pursuit of a SLIAC championship."
Owning more than 800 victories as a club coach since his debut in 1986, Zapushek has coached the Cougar Soccer Club, the Metamora Select Soccer Club, the Sporting Futbol Club and FC Peoria. He has also played a large role building youth soccer programs and facilities at the grade school, high school and park district levels in central Illinois.
Zapushek is also currently the Director of Coaching for the FC Metro Select Lil' Devils program in Eureka. His daughter, K.T. Zapushek, ended her collegiate soccer career in 2009 ranked first all-time at Eureka with 19 assists and second all-time with 36 goals.
The men's soccer team will begin its fifth season at the NCAA Division III level in 2011 and can return as many as 18 players from last season's squad, including All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Team selection Cody Halstead (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods H.S./Illinois Central).
Courtesy Eureka College sports information
