Buster Soccer Academy
Camp Staff
Stephen Gorton
Men's Head Soccer Coach and Buster Soccer Academy Director
Stephen Gorton will be entering his fifth season as the Men's Head Soccer coach at Garden City Community College in 2011. Since Gorton has been the Head Soccer coach he has put together one of the most powerful programs in the country. In just his second year as the GCCC Head Coach, he guided the Busters to the National Tournament Final Four. Along the way the Busters won the Region VI Championship and won the Plains District Championship. Stephen Gorton has developed into to one of the most successful junior college soccer coaches in the country in a short period of time. He has key wins over programs such as San Jacinto (TX.), Jefferson College (MO.), and Georgia Perimeter (GA.). Gorton has produced 33 All Conference Players, 30 All Region Players, 2007 & 2008 KJCCC Freshmen of the Year, 5 NSCAA All South, 5 NJCAA All Americans, 2 NSCAA All Americans, 2009 & 2010 KJCCC Player of the Year, and one player named to the National Tournament team. In 2008 Coach Gorton was named the NJCAA Plains District Coach of the Year in and nominated NSCAA National Coach of the Year. Gorton has compiled a 56-21-3 (.072) record overall, 35-11-1 (.076) conference record and a 41-5-0 (.089) Home record.
Gorton and his team are also very active in the community. They work with the YMCA youth soccer program in the off-season. In 2008 Gorton worked with the YMCA youth programs as a Director of Coaching and Technical Director with over 20 of his players volunteering as youth coaches for the program. He also runs the city’s Futsal leagues, is the Director of the Buster Soccer Academy, which is the Garden City Men's Soccer Camp during the summer, and serves on the coaching staff for the Kansas Olympic Development
Program. Prior to GCCC, Gorton was an Assistant Coach at Western Illinois University, an NCAA Division 1 team that competes in the Summit League. While at WIU in 2004 he helped Head Coach Dr. Eric P. Johnson guide the leathernecks to a conference tournament championship, and an automatic birth to the NCAA College Cup. Gorton had the pleasure of coaching Colorado Rapids defender Kosuke Kimura while at WIU. "Eric Johnson taught me a lot about how to be a successful coach, but more importantly he taught me how to become a man through the qualities of responsibility, commitment, loyalty and honesty. This is what we teach our players- how to become better soccer players, students and members of society."
As a player, Gorton played at Western Illinois University. Gorton was an All Conference performer while at WIU. Coach Gorton was honored NSCAA/Adidas All North, NSCAA All American, and All Region throughout his collegiate career as well. Gorton played in the USL Premier Development League with the Thunder Bay Chill out of Ontario, Canada. While with the Chill he helped the team to a 25-10 record in two years, as well as being named to the PDL team of the week, and Franchise defender of the year.
Stephen Gorton was born and raised in Mattawan, MI and then went on to Western Illinois University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration and a minor in Kinesiology. Gorton resides in Garden City with his wife former Andrea Fernandez the Head Women’s Soccer coach at Garden City Community College, and their dog Cue.
Andrea Fernandez
Head Women’s Soccer Coach and Co Director of Buster Soccer Academy
Coach Fernandez will begin her second season coaching at Garden City Community College this coming fall. Since taking the Head Coaching position in November of 2009 she has already made significant positive changes to the GCCC Women’s Soccer program. Here’s what some of the players had to say about the program since Coach Fernandez took over:
“Coach is very motivating, she pushes us enough for us to want to push ourselves “ said Sarah Velasquez, a current sophomore that will be continuing her soccer career and academics and a four year university next fall.
Ashley Himple, who will be returning for her sophomore season in fall said, “as a coach, she understands us and helps us grow as players. We are pushed to our full potential and sometimes further, but in the end, hard work pays off.”
Brooke another returning freshman said, “we struggled as a team last year to find success, but we a great core group of girls returning. With our new coach I am ready to turn over a new page and take this team to nationals!”
Marissa Castillo, a sophomore going on to play at a four year university, gives advice to future busters by saying, “To have something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.”
Coach Fernandez played soccer from the time she could walk, been coached and mentored by some of the most experienced and decorated coaches in the country and played with some of the best players in the world. During her time at Western Illinois, along with playing soccer all four years, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in both Spanish and Nutrition. During this time she studied in depth the areas of group dynamics, team building, interpersonal communication skills, and nutrition for high performance female athletes. The combination of her knowledge and experience in soccer, areas of study, love of the game and desire to influence women’s soccer will absolutely result in success for the Buster Women’s Soccer Program.
Coach has resided in Garden City since 2005 and lives with her fiancé, Stephen and their dog, Cue. She enjoys the welcoming community and the great support shown for GCCC athletics, especially its love and passion for soccer.
Chad Mitchell
Assistant men’s Soccer Coach and Buster Soccer Academy Coordinator
Additional Staff
Andrew Sincock (England), Zeph Thomas (Engalnd), Michael Wood (England), Jason Stokes (England), Lazero Gil (Miami, Florida).
The rest of the staff will be made of present and past Buster Soccer players, as well as college and high school coaches around the country. Former Buster Soccer players who are playing NCAA Division 1 soccer will also be on staff.
