New Coaches Take The Helm on Pelicans' Soccer Pitch

The fall brings new beginnings for all, particularly on the soccer field at Loomis Chaffee School.

Carey O'Brien and Charlie Bour have a long road ahead of them. As the newest additions to the Loomis Chaffee coaching ranks, the duo is tasked with returning the Pelicans' girls and boys soccer teams to prominence in New England.

In 2010, the boys (currently 0-2) finished with a record of 11-6-1, including a loss to Andover in the quarterfinals of the New England championship tournament.

The hope is that Bour's experience, coupled with his passion for teaching and the game of soccer, will propel the boys on to continued success.

Bour's own hopes are just as high, if not higher, as far as his future at Loomis is concerned. Taking on the duty of teaching Spanish in addition to his responsibilities on the pitch, there's no other position Bour would rather be in.

“This is my dream job — an opportunity to be a part of an unbelievable soccer program and teach Spanish. Some people are lucky enough to love their job. I am lucky, multiplied by two,” he said in a statement released by the school.

Bour comes to Loomis from his alma mater, St. Lawrence University, where he served as an assistant coach and captained the soccer squad during his undergraduate years.

The girls finished their 2010 campaign with a record of 12-3-2, losing to Noble & Greenough in the New England semifinals. With their first game of the 2011 season on Wed. Sept., 21, hopes are high, and a new beginning with O'Brien at the helm only adds to those high hopes.

"I am very passionate about coaching and teaching soccer, and I am excited to lead the Pelicans as head coach," said O'Brien.

A West Hartford-native, O'Brien is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she was an All-American player and captain of her team. O'Brien continued her career after graduation with the San Jose Cyber Rays of the Women's United Soccer Association.

Following her professional career, O'Brien returned to UConn, where she served as an assistant under coach Len Tsantiris.