wbusta10@newark.rutgers.edu
Named the
2014 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Coach of the Year following a record-shattering campaign by his Scarlet Raiders, Bill Bustamante has his program on an ever rising trajectory.
Under his direction last fall, the Raiders reeled off a program record 14 wins, completed the best NJAC regular season in the 15-year history of the program, earned their first ever berth in the NJAC Championship Tournament and notched the first two post-season victories in program history on their way to the ECAC/Upstate Championship match.
The former Rutgers University Director of Women’s Soccer Operations and veteran PDA clinician/coach was named the head women’s soccer at Rutgers-Newark by Director of Athletics Mark Griffin on March 1, 2010.
Following four years of building a strong foundation for Rutgers-Newark's program, Bustamante reaped the benefits as the team went 14-8-2 overall and 4-4-1 in the rugged NJAC. After getting bumped out of the NJAC playoffs, the Raiders rolled past Lehman, 8-0, and the Sage Colleges, 7-0, to reach the ECAC/Upstate title match.
Juniors Cristina Estremera, Sara Corson and Paige Lazar where chosen to the All-NJAC squad with senior Sarah Cunha and sophomore Victoria Benet earning Honorable Mention.
The New Jersey resident has deep roots in soccer as a player and instructor in the region, having played from prep school through college in the state before starting a six-year professional playing career here. He played with the New Jersey Dragons of the USISL Professional League (1992-94) before competing with Olmedo in the first division of the Ecuadorian Professional League (1996-98).
The founder of B ’Elite Player Development, he has extensive coaching experience in the state. He has served as an ODP staff coach for Under 15 Girls for the 2009 – 11 seasons. He helped the PDA Clash ECNL U16 Girls to a 2012 National ECNL semi-final and the PDA Splash U12 Girls to the state championship in 2011. A program staff member of the Id2 national Identification Development program in 2007, he served as the director of coaching for the Kearny Thistle Football Club from 207 to 2009.
From 2004 to 2006, he served as technical director of the Parsippany Soccer Club – running competition for 16 boys and girls teams while directing training camps for boys and girls from Under 9 to Under 17 age groups.
He helped coach the highly-success Parsippany Storm U15 to U17 Girls to a string of regional championships from 2005 through 2006, including SYL National Finalist appearances in both years. He also coached the Parsippany Jaguars U13 and U14 Girls.
A freshman All-American at Montclair State, Bustamante transferred to NCAA Division I Monmouth University where he was a two-time All-Northeast Conference selection. He played scholastic soccer a nearby St. Benedict’s Prep, making the all-state squad twice for the nationally recognized program.
Bustamante resides in Kearny with his wife Cheryl and daughter Gianna.
