Meet the Coaches

Bret Boulware enters his 10th season at the helm of the Presbyterian College men’s soccer program. Boulware led his 2008 team to two wins and two ties in its toughest slate in recent memory.

The Blue Hose posted four wins during the team’s first year of Division I play, the first of which was a 2-0 victory over Longwood on Sept. 16, 2007. PC posted back-to-back wins over Gardner-Webb and Jacksonville.

In 2006, Boulware led the Blue Hose to a 8-3-3 overall record and a 2-2-2 record in their final season in the South Atlantic Conference.

PC concluded its time at the NCAA Division II level on a strong note. The Blue Hose were nationally-ranked for a large part of the season and were ranked as high as fourth regionally. Three players earned NSCAA all-region accolades in forward Brandon Tucker (first team), defender John Odum (second team) and goalkeeper Mark Owens (second team).

Tucker and Odum were both also named to the All-SAC first team, while midfielder Bennett Cope was chosen to the league's second team.

Overall the last three seasons the Blue Hose have posted a record of 28-19-4 and finished no lower than sixth in the SAC. In 2005, the team finished 11-7-1 and was fifth in the league, while they ended the 2004 season with a 9-9 record.

In 2003, Boulware led the Blue Hose to an 11-5-1 overall record and a second place finish in the SAC regular season with a 5-1-1 mark. In addition, PC placed six players on the All-SAC teams and three players in Kevin Czar, Derek Knapp, and Doug Belknap were named to the NSCAA All-Southeast Region teams.

In 2002, the Blue Hose compiled an 8-9-0 overall record, including a 5-2-0 mark in the SAC regular season. PC finished tied for second in the SAC regular season title race with Wingate University and advanced to the semifinals of the Food Lion/SAC Tournament. In addition, the team placed two student-athletes on the NSCAA All-Region teams in Knapp and Belknap. Belknap was also named to the Verizon Academic All-America third team.

In 2001, Boulware led the team to a 6-8-4 overall record, including a 5-1-1 mark in the SAC regular season. The team fought through an injury-plagued season to win a share of the SAC regular season title with Wingate University. In addition, PC advanced to the Food Lion/SAC Tournament semifinals before losing to Carson-Newman College.

In 2000, Boulware led the Blue Hose to a 12-5-2 overall record, including a 5-2-0 mark in the South Atlantic Conference regular season, which was good for a second place finish. In addition, PC advanced to the Food Lion/SAC Tournament semifinals before losing on penalty kicks to Catawba College.

Boulware, a 1992 graduate of PC, returned to his alma mater in 2000 after serving as an assistant head coach at Furman University for five years. During his time at Furman, Boulware helped lead the Paladins to five Southern Conference Championships, which included the 1999 season which saw the team post a 21-2-1 overall record. The Paladins earned a trip to the NCAA National Tournament quarterfinals and a No. 3 national ranking in Collegiate Soccer’s final poll.

Boulware is no stranger to the Blue Hose soccer program, having played from 1988-91 and twice earning All-America honors. Boulware, a goalkeeper while playing at PC, still owns the program’s single-season and career records for fewest goals allowed by a goalkeeper and was a member of the 1988 squad which set the program’s record for consecutive wins without a loss (11). Boulware served as team captain in 1991, earned team MVP honors that same year, and was selected to participate in the Umbro Senior Bowl All-Star Game.

After finishing his career at Presbyterian, Boulware moved to the sidelines where he served as assistant coach of the Blue Hose men’s soccer program for three seasons. During that time, PC won two SAC regular season titles and posted a 38-16-6 overall mark.

In addition, he served as a coach of the South Carolina Olympic Development Team and holds a USSF National "B" License.

A 1992 graduate of Presbyterian College, Boulware earned his B.S. in history and social studies. He also holds a master’s degree of education with an emphasis in history. Boulware, 39, a native of Columbia, S.C., is married to the former Gina Gatti (PC class of ‘89) of Columbia, S.C. and has a daughter Royton, who is four.

Brian Purcell begins his 21st year as the head coach of the Presbyterian College women’s soccer program. Since he has been in charge, Purcell has posted an overall mark of 218-125-15 since the program’s inception in 1989. Purcell is an alumnus of PC.

In 2008, Purcell’s team recorded its first-ever win over a Big South Conference foe as a conference member, beating Gardner-Webb 2-0 on Oct. 1. The squad then shut out Francis Marion for its third straight shutout. Under Purcell’s direction, defender Rachel Lamb garnered first-team all-conference accolades.

Purcell has guided the team through many changes including the jump to Division I in 2007. The Blue Hose finished 6-7-1 that year, beating their future league co-members High Point, Radford and VMI. PC retained the edge when playing at home with a 3-2-1 record at Martin Stadium.

PC left the Division II level with six Southern Atlantic Conference championships and two SAC tournament titles and made five trips to the NCAA Division II tournament (1994, ’95, ’97, ’99, and ’03). Purcell’s 81 conference wins make him the SAC’s all-time leader. He also ranks sixth all-time in Division II with 207 career wins.

Under Purcell’s guidance, the Blue Hose had their best year in the history of the program in 1999. The 15-2-1 squad spent a week at No. 1 on the NSCAA/adidas rankings and finished eighth in the Coaches Poll. PC captured its sixth SAC title and hosted a first-round match of the Division II national tournament against Belmont Abbey. Purcell was recognized as the NSCAA/adidas Southeast Region Coach of the Year and SAC Coach of the Year for his success with the team.

Purcell is a seven-time SAC Coach of the Year winner and earned National NSCAA Coach of the Year accolades in 1994 after leading the Blue Hose to a 15-3 record.

Before accepting the position as head coach of the women’s team, Purcell spent one year as an assistant coach with PC’s men’s squad. He holds a USSF “B” coaching license and is a member of the USYSA Region III Olympic Development staff. Purcell also serves as co-director of the Presbyterian College soccer camps in the summer.

The Decatur, Ga. native graduated from Presbyterian College in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in Education and Social Studies and earned his master’s from the U.S. Sports Academy in 1989. Purcell resides in Clinton with his wife Kim and their two sons Jay (12) and Will (9).