BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - - Bridgewater State College Director of Athletics, John Harper, announced today that Lou Verrochi has been named as the sixth head coach in the history of the BSC women's soccer program. Verrochi takes over for Andrea Zeigler-O'Connor, who retired after the 2009 season. Zeigler-O'Connor directed the women's soccer team for 11 seasons.

Verrochi is a 1974 graduate of Boston State College where he received a Bachelors of Science degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He lettered in wrestling, lacrosse, and soccer at Boston State and captained the soccer team during his junior and senior seasons. In 2008 Verrochi received his Masters of Education from Salem State College.

A resident of Franklin, Massachusetts, Verrochi is currently a Physical Education teacher at Franklin High School where he also coaches the varsity boy's lacrosse team. He coached high school wrestling at three different schools in Franklin and Stoughton from 1977 through 1995, and coached lacrosse at Bryant College and Dean College from 1976 until 1998.

Coach Verrochi started coaching soccer in 1977 at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin. Since then, he has been an assistant coach at Stonehill College (1991-1992) and at Franklin High School (1998-2001, 2008-2009). Also, he has been the head soccer coach at Bryant University (1980-1991), Dean College (1992-1998), as well as coaching the Bridgewater State men's team for one season (2001). Verrochi founded his own soccer camp called Soccer Plus Inc., which started in 1984 and still goes on today.

"I am delighted to welcome Lou Verrochi back to our coaching staff," said Harper. "He is an excellent coach and a fine person whose philosophies fit well with those of our department." 

"I am confident that our women's soccer program will continue its excellent performances both on the field and in the classroom," Harper added.

Coach Verrochi's stint as the BSC men's head coach, even though brief, was very impactful. He took over a 3-13 team, and, in one short year, turned it around. The Bears improved to 8-9 in 2001 and earned a spot in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Tournament.  For his team's success, Verrochi was voted by his fellow coaches as the MASCAC Coach of the Year.

Lou Verrochi produced four Division II All Americans at Bryant, handfuls of All-New England players as well as all-conference players, and has had success at every level that he has coached. Aside from his MASCAC Coach of the Year honor, he was also a two-time Northeast-10 Coach of the Year at Bryant and an Eastern Mass. High School Soccer Coaches Association Coach of the Year.