Enzo Fuschino led the University of Wisconsin-Platteville soccer team to the first undefeated home season in the 43-year history of the program in his very first year.
The Pioneers were 6-0 at the 10,000-seat Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium, culminating in a school-record 17-0 victory over Finlandia. Overall, the Pioneers were 12-6-1, playing one of the most demanding schedules in the Midwest. The Pioneers beat NCAA III playoff team UW-Oshkosh 2-1 and lost in overtime to another playoff club, UW-Whitewater. Fuschino's team graduated just five players from his first club.
Fuschino (pronounced Foos-KEY-no) became the 10th coach in the 43-year history of the Pioneer men's program and the seventh coach in the women's program, which celebrated its 15th year, during 2007.
Fuschino was the boys' head coach at Madison LaFollette from 2001 to 2006 and previously served as the Lancers' girls' coach. In addition, he has coached both boys and girls at Stoughton High School (1996-99), then several successful club teams, including the Princeton Soccer Club and the Madison 56ers, and for the Wisconsin Boys' Olympic Development Program.
"I've made good connections throughout southern Wisconsin, from Milwaukee to Madison, and that will definitely give me an edge in recruiting," he said. "It's not only high schools, but also club teams. I've dealt with some of the best kids not only in the state but in the entire region."
He played for the Unione Sportiva Melizzano in the Amateur Italian League in 1980-85 and for A.S. Arbia from 1986 to 1989 in what is now Italy's C2 league. Fuschino, who moved to the United States in 1989, earned his bachelor's degree in French and Italian at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1994 and his master's degree in Italian Literature from UW-Madison in 1997. Fuschino has taught Italian and classical mythology at LaFollette, where he earned three teacher of the month awards. In addition to coaching soccer, Fuschino has teaching responsibilities at UW-Platteville.
"I like effective, positive possession soccer," he said. "I like to watch my players move the ball around with a purpose. I also like offensive soccer, but I'll build my team from the back. Being Italian, I like a strong defense. I like the strategic part of the game very much. It's like a chess game, the way I see it. It's a beautiful game. If we play it the way it's supposed to be played, we'll see good results."
Fuschino and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Maria, and Jessie.
Jude Blocker joined the Pioneer staff in 2007, assisting in all phases of the program. The goalkeeper earned all-Iowa Conference academic honors as well as earning the Spartans' defensive MVP honors after helping them to their first-ever winning season in 2006. Blocker, who earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Dubuque, also became the head girls' coach at Dubuque Senior High in 2008.