The Gaffer

Michigan Bucks Head Coach
Dan Fitzgerald is entering his fourth season leading the team in 2009. Since taking over, he has led the Bucks to their most successful three-year span in the Premier Development League. Along with two Great Lakes Division titles (2007-2008), he has led the Bucks to back-to-back PDL Championship matches (2006-2007, winning in 2006) and the 2008 PDL Regular Season Championship. The easy going manager is also 2nd on the Bucks All-Time wins list with 41, just 12 victories behind Steve Burns. Fish was nice enough to have a chat with the 14 Point this weekend:

How have you been keeping busy since July?
My full time job has kept me very busy and I have spent a lot of quality time with my family.

What does a Buck’s coach do during the in the offseason?
I watch a lot of college soccer games, talk to college coaches about their players and work at recruiting players for the summer, something I've done a lot of this year with all the seniors we had on our team in 2008.

You've coached the team through their most successful three year span in Bucks league history, but the last two seasons have ended in disappointment. Which was harder to take?
I like to think about the positives rather than the disappointments. In 2007 we lost the PDL championship on the road in PKs to a very good Laredo team. In 2008 we had the best regular season record in the PDL. I am very proud of the players and their accomplishments both years.

While the Bucks have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup every year you've been at the helm, the team has been knocked out in the 1st round the last two years. Is it a goal of yours to get the Bucks back to cup success in addition to league success in '09?
We hope to have continued success in the U.S. Open Cup in 2009. It is first of all a competition that is very difficult to qualify for. With the team's past success in the Open Cup no USL or MLS pro team is going to look past us. Yes, success in the Open Cup and in the league are very important to me and to the Bucks organization.

Other than the 2006 Championship win, what is your most memorable game as Bucks coach?
There have been a lot of them. I think the 2007 game on Memorial Day vs. Indiana Invaders in South Bend stands out. We needed to tie or win to qualify for the Open Cup and Indiana put out an excellent team that night. We found ourselves down 2-0 at the start of the second half. We showed unbelievable heart and character and scored 3 straight goals before conceding one. It ended 3-3 and we qualified. This game was played at a blistering pace and had excitement, intensity and 6 fantastic goals.

You're currently 2nd on the Bucks Coach's All Time Wins list, 12 behind Steve Burns. Do you keep that in the back of your mind going into the 2009 season?
I wasn’t aware of this and to be honest these type of records don’t mean anything to me. My 7 years as both an assistant and head coach with the Michigan Bucks have been a great experience. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach so much quality and be part of the best organization in the PDL.

For the first time maybe ever, all teams in the Bucks division will play a balanced schedule (playing everyone twice). Your thoughts?
The schedule could not be more fair than it is this year. I am excited for the season and can’t wait for it to start.

Thanks Fish!