Red Hook native Devon Tomson has been named head coach of men’s soccer at Bard College.
Tomson’s connection to Bard is deep. His father, Joel, was the athletic director and men’s soccer coach at Bard while he was growing up.
Devon Tomson was the associate head men’s soccer coach under Scott Swere from 2005-2009, as well as an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team during that period. Swere has stepped down from his coaching role for family reasons but will remain on staff as an administrator.
For the last two years, Tomson has been on the men’s soccer coaching staff at UC-Santa Cruz in California, while also coaching boys soccer at Harbor High School in Santa Cruz..
“I’m excited to take on this new opportunity,” said Tomson in a university press release. “I have my roots here. I’m glad to be around my family again.”
Bard’s soccer season opens on Friday with a non-league home game against Southern Vermont College.
And Tomson is taking over a program in transition. Bard entered the powerful Liberty League last fall and six starters graduated from that team.
“(The Liberty League) is one of the big reasons I’m coming,” Tomson said. “I know it’s one of the toughest Div. III leagues in the country, and it’s been that way for a long time. I know where Bard is now, and where it has been. I feel like I’m the guy who can bring them into the next realm.”
“We’re excited to have Devon back at Bard,” Athletic Director Kris Hall said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge about the school and a passion for soccer.”
Tomson played collegiately at Springfield College and received a degree in Physical Education and Coaching in 2002. He has worked as a full-time physical education teacher and spent a year on a cruise ship before settling on coaching as his career.
Before departing for the West Coast, Tomson worked with the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program and Middlepath FC. Once he got out there, he became co-director of the Catalyst Soccer Player Development Program. More recently, he worked with the Red Star Soccer Academy, which is partnered with AFC Ajax of Amsterdam.
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