CVU announces new head coaches for high-profile girls basketball and boys soccer programs

Champlain Valley Union High School has found replacements for two of the state’s most high-profile coaching jobs.

Dominique Bryant has been hired to lead the CVU girls basketball program, while Shane Bufano has been named head coach of the Redhawks boys soccer team, the school announced on social media Friday afternoon.

Both programs are the reigning Division I state champions in their sports.

Bryant replaces Ute Otley, who left for Norwich women’s basketball after leading CVU to eight DI titles, 10 finals appearances and a 268-17 record over 13 seasons. Bufano, a 2004 CVU graduate, succeeds Rob Cole, who resigned last month after a seven-year run that included 93 wins and state crowns in 2018, 2019 and 2023.

Bryant is the former head coach of the University of Vermont women’s basketball team. Bufano coached at Stowe for the past four seasons, where he led the boys team to the D-III title last fall.

‘Dream job’ for Bufano at his alma mater

Prior to his senior year at CVU in 2003, Bufano tore his knee and missed his senior year of high school football.

Instead of playing, Bufano spent that fall learning under then-coach Dan Shepardson as a student assistant. That mentorship turned into a coaching career for Bufano.

“The only place I would leave Stowe for is CVU. It’s been a dream job of mine since I played at CVU,” said Bufano, who lives in Chittenden County. “I have been waiting for this opportunity at CVU to arise.”

Among his previous coaching stops, Bufano spent five seasons as an assistant coach at the South Burlington boys soccer program and four years (2017-2020) as head coach of the men’s soccer program at NVU-Johnson. In 2011, Bufano founded Queen City FC, one of Vermont’s largest soccer clubs.

Over the past four years at Stowe, Bufano produced a 46-11-3 record, with a high of 16-1-1 in 2023 and a 3-0 victory in the title match over rival Peoples.

“I really appreciated my time at Stowe and I’m going to miss those guys. I think they’ll be the favorites for D-III next year,” Bufano said.

While at Stowe, Bufano was twice named Capital and Vermont small-school coach of the year. He will serve as head coach of the Vermont senior boys team this summer and into 2025 during the Lions Twin State Soccer Cup vs. New Hampshire.

‘Missing basketball in my life’: Bryant is ready to return to coaching

After taking a break from coaching last year, Bryant couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return to the sport she loves.

“I really missed basketball in my life. It seemed like a perfect opportunity,” Bryant said. “I have big shoes to fill, but it’s a great community and I’m up for the challenge. The high school level fits my life perfectly.”

Of her six seasons at UVM, Bryant spent half as associate head coach and all but one as the team’s recruiting coordinator. She was part of the staff when the Catamounts captured the America East title in 2023, the program’s first bid to the NCAA tournament since 2010. On the court, Bryant worked with the team’s post players and earned the honor for his defensive success.

Bryant played collegiately at St. Joseph’s, serving as a two-year captain and leading the Hawks to two WNIT appearances (2010, 2011). She also coached the Manhattan and Marist staffs before moving to Vermont in 2017.

Bryant said she is “excited to give back” to the game while maintaining CVU’s championship pedigree.

More: CVU girls basketball rallies for consecutive DI crowns, record-breaking 10th title

“Ute did a great job and she really knew how to make a program successful. I’m not going to be her, but I’m going to try to put my own spin on it and continue the success that Ute had for years,” said Bryant. “I want to help student-athletes achieve their goals.”

Bryant is engaged to Renee Breault, CVU’s new athletic director. Bryant confirmed that Breault apologized for the hiring process after Bryant submitted her application.

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Contact Abrami at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: CVU hires head coaches for girls basketball, boys soccer