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Lightning Head Coach Budnick Stepping Down After Impressive 2009-10 Season

September 5, 2010 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
Louisville Lightning News Release


There are high expectations for the head coach of the Louisville Lightning. In addition to leading the team on the field, the coach is expected to create ties with the community, promote the sport of soccer, and inspire the soccer community as a whole. During the 2009-2010 season Scott Budnick excelled in this position.

Budnick led the Lightning to an overall record of 12-6, a second place finish in the PASL-East Division, and a final match appearance in the US Open Cup Arena League Championship against 2010 PASL winners, the San Diego Sockers. During his tenure, the Lightning also became the only indoor soccer team in North America to have an active MLS player on its roster and the only PASL team with five members receiving All-League Honors.

Budnick himself received recognition receiving the PASL's Coach of the Year award in recognition of the success he helped build and promote. Unfortunately, Coach Budnick will be stepping down from his head coach duties this season in order to spend more time with his family and law career. While this decision was undoubtedly difficult, Budnick feels it was the right move to make after helping the Lightning establish a strong presence in Louisville and the professional soccer industry.

"We achieved a good deal of success as an organization both on and off the field. I know I speak for our players, however, when I say that we were most disappointed in not reaching the [PASL] playoffs. We owe our fans and sponsors a better result. "

The Lightning was extremely fortunate to have such a professional at its helm last year. Budnick had participated at some of the highest levels of soccer in the country. He spent time playing in the early years of Major League Soccer with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion. He also played alongside Kasey Keller during several games with the United States U-20 men's national soccer team.

Aside from Scott's soccer accolades, he also excelled off the field. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1993. After completing his professional soccer career as a player, he earned his MBA from Florida Atlantic University in 2001 and went on to complete his JD from the Nova Southeastern University in 2004. He currently works for Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, and lives with his wife Shannon in Louisville, KY.

The announcement of Coach Budnick's plans comes at a critical time for the Lightning, as the organization begins preparing for the preseason.

Tryouts for the 2010-2011 season are just around the corner, September 18 and 25, and the first home games will begin in early or mid-November. Budnick believes the Lightning are in a great position to improve, saying "David and I anticipated that natural rates of attrition and turnover might present a challenge during our inaugural season and thereafter. We decided early on that one way to safeguard against this was to build in as much organizational redundancy as possible. Whether selecting a game-day roster or planning a road trip, much of our decision-making was group based so that if we were forced to replace someone the remaining staff would have the benefit of that prior experience. This will definitely help us achieve our short term goals of continuity and sustainability."

The Lightning intends to announce a new coaching staff before the end of next week. Although, no details were given at this time suggesting possible replacements for the former Coach of the Year.

"Scott's skill set and background made him an excellent head coach in our inaugural season. More importantly, Scott assertively stepped up into the leadership position and sacrificed his time and energy for our organization,"said the Lightning's General Manager, David Horne. "We are very grateful to Scott and his massive contribution to this venture. We wish Scott and his family the best, and we look forward to hosting him as a celebrity guest at Lightning games in season two."



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