New soccer coach believes Buffaloes can ‘disrupt’ VOL
Manteca High media teacher James Burns has been named the coach of the boys soccer program. Burns also coaches with the Manteca Futbol Club and Academica Women’s Soccer Club.
By MOISES RAMOS
The Tower
After a rough season, James Burns, a Manteca High media teacher and alumni has stepped in to lead a complete rebuild and rebranding of the boys soccer program.
Last season, the Buffaloes finished the Valley Oak League season near the bottom of the standings, winning just one game.
Burns, an accomplished coach with the Manteca Futbol Club and Academica Women’s Soccer Club, didn’t hesitate to step in. He met with the players on Thursday, April 6, and immediately introduced spring, summer and fall training schedules.
“The challenge of restoring the Manteca High boys’ soccer program to a place of respectability was enticing,” he said. “I've reached a point in my coaching career where I've been seeking out new challenges. When I looked closely at this program, I recognized a need for structure, which I feel I can bring.”
Burns hopes his experience and passion for the sport will help the Buffaloes become “disruptive” in the VOL in his first season. Beyond that, Burns, who helped guide the Sierra girls soccer program to four consecutive league titles and a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III banner, hopes to field a program that will challenge Sierra and East Union for superiority in league and vie for playoff berths.
More importantly, he wants players who take pride in the program.
“Beyond winning games and disrupting the Valley Oak League, I hope to create a culture of success and pride within our program,” said Burns, who has announced a Manteca High Youth Soccer Camp on June 26-28.
“I want players who take great ownership of the program and are proud to wear the colors, regardless of record.”
If you’d like to send your son or daughter to the inaugural Manteca Youth Soccer Camp, please contact boys soccer coach James Burns at 209-679-4831.
Burns is a true believer in hard work and dedication; those are the most important values to have as a team to be able to compete. The program’s mantra will be “Earn Everything,” acknowledging the work rate required to close the gap in the ever-competitive VOL.
“Earn everything. There is no substitute for hard work, stubborn dedication and a desire to push the limits of your potential,” he said. “If we are all built this way, there's no telling how fast we can turn this program around.”
There are building blocks.
Burns has a core group of young club players to build around and a deep class of returning players. The junior varsity team proved to be competitive last season with a few of those players, including freshman Mateo Esparza, appearing in varsity games late in the season.
Spring workouts began on Monday, April 17, and will continue through the summer and fall. When the season kicks off at the Hughson High tournament on Nov. 17-18, Burns hopes to introduce a new chapter in Manteca High soccer history.
“Time together,” Burns said succinctly. “I have objectives for each season of the year, beginning with this spring season. We will stay together in the spring, summer, and fall with the hope that time together will make us tough to beat.”
Though the schedule is still developing, Manteca High will host the Buff Cup for the first time in years on Dec. 14-15 and test itself with regional contests with Ripon, Lathrop and Weston Ranch. Valley Oak League play begins Jan. 4 at Sierra, Burns’ old stomping grounds.