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Riverhounds name Jon Busch new goalkeeper coach

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds named Jon Busch their new goalkeeper coach on Tuesday, the team announced in a press release.

Busch is an American former goalkeeper who played for a variety of teams across the U.S. soccer pyramid.

He played College soccer at Charlotte from 1994-96. Busch earned a number of accolades, such as NSCAA First Team All-American and Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 1996, Soccer America Freshman All-American in 1994 and C-USA First Team All-Conference Selection three times.

Once he left Charlotte, Busch played at different now-defunct clubs over the next six years, like Worcester Wildfire, Carolina Dynamo, Hampton Roads Mariners and Hershey Wildcats.

Busch finally broke through to the MLS in 2002 with the Columbus Crew, as they drafted him with the 23rd pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

He played for the Crew for five seasons from 2002-06 and played a part in winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2002 and the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2004.

Columbus waived Busch in 2007 and after Toronto FC selected him in the 2007 MLS Waiver Draft, they traded him to the Chicago Fire.

Busch played for the Fire from 2007-09. His best season came in 2008, when he won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, as he posted the best saves percentage in the league, 78.2%, and made 122 saves on 156 shots. He also earned a spot in the MLS Best Starting XI.

Chicago waived Busch in 2010 and then he moved on to the San Jose Earthquakes. Busch made 150 appearances for San Jose from 2010-14, the most he made for a club in his career.

He helped the Earthquakes win the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2012 and made a club record 138 saves in 2014.

Busch made 12 appearances for Chicago in 2015 and then finished off his 21-year professional career with 59 appearances for the Indy Eleven in the NASL from 2016-17.

Busch played in 309 MLS matches from 2002-15, recording 83 shutouts, the sixth most in league history.

He also made one start for the United States Men’s National Team in a 3-0 win over Columbia on March 9, 2005.

Busch moved on to coaching after his professional career. He spent time as Director of Goalkeeping for Scottish Premiership side Hibernian in 2002 and then coached for a short time with the youth and amateur club Tampa Bay United.

The 46-year old will start his work with the Riverhounds this week and will start looking at goalkeepers for the club’s Invitational Combine on Wednesday.

 

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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