Men’s Soccer coach abruptly dismissed ahead of season

By Amrit Brown

Men’s soccer head coach Kyle Bulgarelli was fired on Aug. 23, just nine days before the beginning of the season.

Associate Director of Athletics Jack Mehl and Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications Geoff Goyne said they were unable to comment on Bulgarelli’s dismissal. “We just had a coaching change,” Mehl said.

Athletic Director Susan Kolb did not respond to requests for an interview.

The details of the situation have been reported to the NCAA just as they would be with any other team, Mehl said. He added that it was not ideal to have to replace a coach, especially this close to the season.

No current players were able to comment on the dismissal. One senior said it was out of fear of being banned from the team.

James Dempsey, formerly a graduate assistant under Bulgarelli, has been named interim head coach. Dempsey is assisted by Xavier Djiki.

Mehl says the plan is to keep Dempsey in the role for the remainder of the year. “We are doing what we can to support the team and support the coaches,” he added.

This is the fourth coach in four years for the men’s soccer team; two former coaches resigned. “I think when things happen it’s disruptive to what you are trying to build,” Mehl said.

Goyne said that it is disappointing for the seniors on the team to have to go through constant changes with the coaching staff. “We hope that when we get the next [coach] in it stabilizes,” he added.

According to Djiki, Bulgarelli cared deeply for this program. “He is somebody who has bled Hood for the past 10 years. He is somebody who we will look to make proud over the course of the season,” Djiki said.

“He went above and beyond to make his players’ college experience worthwhile,” a current Hood soccer player said.

Bulgarelli, who also declined to comment, was named head coach in February 2022 and coached one season with a 3-13-2 record. Before becoming head coach, he played four seasons at Hood and was named assistant coach in 2018. As a player at Hood, Bulgarelli was selected for the MAC Honor Roll 10 times and won two MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week recognitions.

The men’s soccer team started their season last week and are currently 0-3.