Erik Burstein enters his 18th season at the helm of the Kutztown University women's soccer program in 2025.
Burstein has transformed Kutztown women's soccer into a nationally acclaimed program, with the Golden Bears qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championship tournament 12 times under his watch and appearing in the United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) National Poll in each of the past 15 seasons. KU reached the DII national semifinals in 2016 and ascended to No. 1 in the national coaches poll for the first time in program history during the 2017 season.
Burstein holds a 233-87-33 (.707) overall record at Kutztown and 173-58-24 (.725) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Including three seasons at Rutgers-Newark, Burstein holds a 256-116-35 (.672) career record.
The winningest coach in program history, Burstein earned his 200th career victory at KU in a 2-0 victory over Millersville Sept. 24, 2022. Entering the 2024 season, he ranked 24th among active Division II coaches in win percentage and 24th in victories. He was 31st in win percentage and tied for 40th in overall victories among DII coaches all-time. Burstein is a three-time KU Coach of the Year (2014, 2015, 2017), the 2017 PSAC Coach of the Year and was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2023.
Burstein mentored the program's two Atlantic Region and PSAC Offensive Athletes of the Year: Sam Costello in 2014, and Emily Zwiercan in 2017. For his career, Burstein has coached 74 All-PSAC selections, 85 All-Region honorees (52 NSCAA/United Soccer Coaches; 33 Daktronics/D2CCA), three PSAC Freshmen of the Year, twp PSAC Defensive Players of the Year and the program's 11 All-Americans.
Kutztown has won 10 or more games in 22-straight seasons, including all 17 seasons Burstein has presided over the program. Under Burstein, KU has made five trips to the PSAC title game (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2024) and reached the semifinals on eight occasions (2009-11, 2014, 2016-17, 2023-24).
In 2023, Burstein led KU to its first unbeaten regular season in program history and its second PSAC East regular season championship in three years. The Golden Bears enjoyed one of their most successful regular seasons in program history in 2023. The Maroon and Gold downed Bloomsburg 2-0 in the PSAC quaterfinals for the program’s first win in the conference tournament since 2017. KU earned the second seed and hosted the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament, besting Concord 3-2 in the First Round at Keystone Field. For their successes, Burstein, along with assistant Maddy Reed and Rob Miller, were named the United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region Staff of the Year for the second time in program history.
Kutztown made its second-deepest run into the NCAA Tournament in the 2022 season. Despite an up-and-down regular season, followed by an exit in the PSAC Tournament quarterfinals, the Golden Bears knocked off Frostburg State and Gannon to advance to the Atlantic Region Final in the Sweet 16 for only the second time in program history. They ultimately fell to No. 2 West Chester 1-0 in the Atlantic Region Final.
Academically, Burstein's Golden Bears set a program record in 2021 with 28 PSAC Scholar-Athletes. On the pitch, the Golden Bears had one of their most successful seasons in program history, finishing 17-1-2 overall and 15-1 in the PSAC, the most wins in the conference in their history and second-most victories behind the 20 Burstein led the group to in 2016. KU also won the PSAC East regular season title for the first time since 2004.
Kutztown claimed its first NCAA Atlantic Region Championship in 2016, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat West Chester, 3-2, on the road in the regional title game. The Maroon and Gold blanked Bridgeport, 1-0, in the national quarterfinals to advance to the Final Four for the first time in school history. KU ended the historic season with a 20-5 record (13-3 in the PSAC), while setting school records for overall wins, regular season wins (15), PSAC wins and NCAA Championship tournament wins in a season (three). The Golden Bears also matched program records for shutouts (13) and longest winning streak (nine).
For their efforts, Burstein and assistant coach Kelly Bushe were named the Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year by the NSCAA.
The very next season, 2017, Kutztown started 13-0 to establish the program's longest ever winning streak and reached No. 1 in the NSCAA National Poll. KU went on to lead the PSAC in scoring offense at 2.71 goals per game.
Burstein set the program record for wins on Oct. 8, 2014, in a 2-0 clean sheet against Seton Hill. Six days later, on Oct. 14, the veteran coach won his 100th game at the helm of the Golden Bears.
Three of Burstein's teams have set the program's record for wins in a season, most recently in 2016 when the Golden Bears won 20 games. In 2011, KU won a then-record 16 games and the 2009 Golden Bears won a then-record 15 times. Notably in 2009, 13 of the 15 victories were by shutout, which stood alone as a school record for shutouts in a season until the 2016 team equaled it. The 2018 season saw the KU defense allow its fewest goals in a season with nine.
Burstein served as head coach of the Lehigh Valley Tempest in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) from 2018–2023, transforming the franchise into one of the league’s top clubs both regionally and nationally. Under his leadership, the Tempest earned recognition as the WPSL Franchise of the Year in 2021, achieved the highest league finish in franchise history, and secured a top-25 national ranking. That same year, Burstein was honored as the WPSL Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year after guiding the Tempest to an undefeated start and a historic 2nd-place league finish. The WPSL, the largest women’s soccer league in the world by number of clubs, is recognized as the second tier of women’s soccer in the U.S., positioned just below the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and on par with United Women’s Soccer (UWS).
At the club level, Burstein has coached for FC Revolution, Lehigh Valley United (LVU) and Western Lehigh United and Hex Keystone. In 2012, he guided the LVU 97 Girls to the EPYSA Presidents Cup State Championship, the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup Region I Championship and a third-place finish at the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup National Championships.
Kutztown marks Burstein's second collegiate head coaching stop. He spent three seasons at Rutgers-Newark in the tough New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), compiling a three-year record of 23-29-2 (.444) between 2003-05. The Scarlet Raptors finished with a winning record for the first time in program history in 2004, going 10-7-1. Burstein was also an assistant for the program in 2002. He departed Rutgers-Newark to join the staff at Division I Bowling Green State University as an assistant in 2006.
With the Falcons, Burstein's primary focus was defenders and goalkeepers. Bowling Green produced its best defensive numbers in the program’s 10-year history in 2006, allowing its fewest goals, producing its most shutouts and boasting the league’s leading goalkeeper in goals against average.
Burstein began his coaching career in 1997, leading the Ohio-based Greater Akron Premier and West Akron Soccer Club U14 boys teams. He was also an assistant coach at Median Highland High School. Burstein spent time as director of coaching/player development with the Lakehurst-Manchester Soccer Association (2000-02) and on the coaching staff with the New Jersey Olympic Development Program (2002-06).
From 2003-04, Burstein was an assistant coach with the Jersey Shore Boca F.C. of the United Soccer League: Premier Development League.
An accomplished goalkeeper during his playing days, Burstein was a two-time all-conference, all-county and all-state first-team selection at his alma mater, Toms River East High School. He was a Mid-Atlantic All-America selection as a senior in 1994.
Burstein played professionally, both domestically and internationally. He was a member of the Brooklyn Italians Professional Soccer team in 1991, before joining Leyton Orient F.C. (English 3rd Division) from 1994-95. He played for the New Jersey Youth Soccer State Cup Champion Jersey Shore Boca F.C. in 1992 and 1994, and earned a spot on the Olympic Development Program at both the state (New Jersey) and regional (Region I) levels from 1990-94.
He currently holds USSF National "B", National Goalkeeping and Youth licenses, as well as United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Level III National and Youth diplomas.
Burstein is a 2002 graduate of Stockton University (formerly Richard Stockton College), with a degree in communications. He and wife, Brigitte, have two sons, Gavin and Travis.
ERIK BURSTEIN YEAR-BY-YEAR COACHING RECORD
|
Overall |
Conference |
|
| Year |
School |
Wins |
Losses |
Ties |
Pct. |
Wins |
Losses |
Ties |
Pct. |
Postseason & Honors |
| 2003 |
Rutgers-Newark |
8 |
10 |
0 |
.444 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
.222 |
|
| 2004 |
Rutgers-Newark |
10 |
7 |
1 |
.583 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
.125 |
|
| 2005 |
Rutgers-Newark |
5 |
12 |
1 |
.306 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
.111 |
|
| 2007 |
Kutztown |
10 |
6 |
3 |
.605 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
.500 |
|
| 2008 |
Kutztown |
12 |
6 |
2 |
.650 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
.583 |
PSAC Quarterfinals |
| 2009 |
Kutztown |
15 |
6 |
2 |
.696 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
.708 |
PSAC Runner-Up
NCAA DII Second Round |
| 2010 |
Kutztown |
14 |
5 |
2 |
.714 |
11 |
3 |
1 |
.767 |
PSAC Semifinals
NCAA DII First Round |
| 2011 |
Kutztown |
16 |
6 |
0 |
.727 |
11 |
3 |
0 |
.786 |
PSAC Runner-Up
NCAA DII Second Round |
| 2012 |
Kutztown |
11 |
6 |
2 |
.632 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
.714 |
PSAC Quarterfinals |
| 2013 |
Kutztown |
13 |
7 |
0 |
.650 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
.688 |
PSAC Quarterfinals
NCAA DII Second Round |
| 2014 |
Kutztown |
15 |
5 |
1 |
.738 |
12 |
4 |
0 |
.750 |
PSAC Runner-Up
NCAA DII First Round |
| 2015 |
Kutztown |
11 |
6 |
1 |
.639 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
.688 |
PSAC Quarterfinals |
| 2016 |
Kutztown |
20 |
5 |
0 |
.800 |
13 |
3 |
0 |
.813 |
PSAC Runner-Up
NCAA Atlantic Region Champions
NCAA DII Semifinals |
| 2017 |
Kutztown |
16 |
4 |
1 |
.786 |
13 |
2 |
1 |
.844 |
PSAC Semifinals
NCAA DII First Round
PSAC Coach of the Year |
| 2018 |
Kutztown |
14 |
4 |
2 |
.750 |
12 |
3 |
1 |
.781 |
PSAC Quarterfinals
NCAA DII First Round |
| 2019 |
Kutztown |
11 |
7 |
0 |
.611 |
9 |
7 |
0 |
.562 |
|
| 2020 |
Kutztown |
SEASON CANCELED (COVID 19) |
| 2021 |
Kutztown |
17 |
1 |
2 |
.900 |
15 |
1 |
0 |
.938 |
PSAC Quarterfinals
NCAA DII Second Round |
| 2022 |
Kutztown |
11 |
6 |
4 |
.619 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
.625 |
PSAC Quarterfinals
NCAA Atlantic Region Runner-Up
NCAA DII Third Round |
| 2023 |
Kutztown |
15 |
2 |
5 |
.795 |
12 |
0 |
4 |
.875 |
PSAC Semifinals
NCAA DII Second Round |
| 2024 |
Kutztown |
12 |
5 |
6 |
.652 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
.625 |
PSAC Runner-Up
NCAA DII Second Round |
| COACHING TOTALS |
| 3 Seasons |
Rutgers-Newark |
23 |
29 |
2 |
.444 |
4 |
22 |
0 |
.154 |
|
| 17 Seasons |
Kutztown |
233 |
87 |
33 |
.707 |
173 |
58 |
24 |
.725 |
|
| 20 Seasons |
|
256 |
116 |
35 |
.672 |
177 |
80 |
24 |
.673 |
|
Updated 12/20/2024
