Under new management: Durbin in charge of Merced soccer

The Merced boys soccer program may have changed coaches, but it kept the same hiring formula. Once again, a former standout baseball player will headline one of the top Division I soccer programs in the Sac-Joaquin Section.

Jason Durbin, a former 26th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2001 who played on scholarship at Pepperdine, is Merced's new head coach, continuing a lifelong pursuit.

Forget home runs, dugouts and diamonds -- soccer, Durbin insists, is his best friend.

"This is where my heart's at. It's always been soccer over baseball," added Durbin, also an Atwater girls club soccer coach. "Baseball just gave me an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."

Durbin was hired in the spring to replace Bart McAfee, who stepped away after leading Merced to a 39-5-6 record in the last two years, back-to-back Central California Conference titles and a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship.

McAfee's success turned the position into a highly sought-after job. Athletic director Scott Winton said Durbin's enthusiasm for the game helped distance himself from a large pool of candidates.

"It's been a premier program the last two years, winning a section title and a league title again last year," Winton added. "We felt it was a really good fit. We liked his enthusiasm and passion. We're excited about where he'll take our program."

On Tuesday, during the team's second workout, Durbin looked nothing like a baseball player.

He ran through cones with a ball glued to his foot, demonstrating a drill to four fresh-faced, first-year varsity players.

He cut inside and out of two orange cones and then stopped short of a third, pulling the ball behind his back for a nifty turn.

With a quick snap of his leg, he fired a pass across the penalty box to a player in wait. As the ball reached its intended target, he punctuated his demonstration with a stern reminder.

"Call for the ball," Durbin instructed his players. "If they don't, don't pass to them. Communicate."

The new coach means business. With so few starters returning, Durbin can't afford not to be.

Merced hardly resembles the team that has won the last two CCC championships and the program's only section title in 2008.

The roster has been ravaged by graduation. There was hardly a familiar face on the varsity soccer field Tuesday. Of the eight in attendance, only midfielder Freddy Hernandez had a varsity start under his belt.

Gone are the likes of all-around playmaker Cristian Alvarez, midfielders Hector Berber and Krystofer Ruiz and defenders Drake Burch and Daniel Martinez.

Durbin will fill the holes with newcomers from the JV team, eager players like Willie Gomez, Ozzie Rios and Justin Lor.

"I'm coming in here trying to keep the tradition going," said Durbin, who played three years of varsity soccer at Atwater before his baseball career took off.

"There's no pressure. I don't feel any pressure. Bart did a fantastic job here. Our job is to keep the tradition going. ... With my background, we'll keep this thing going."

Merced returns only three starters: Hernandez (six goals, one assist), 2008 CCC MVP Octavio Murillo (eight goals, 10 assists) and goalie Andrew Jaurique (62 saves). Senior Alex Sanchez (one goal, two assists) is also back.

Hernandez believes a Merced team without many household names and thin on experience can still compete in the CCC.

Merced is 21-1-4 in conference play in the last two years and hasn't lost a CCC game since a 2-1 decision to Pitman on Oct. 6, 2008.

"I think we have as great a chance as any other team to win the CCC," Hernandez said on Tuesday, sun scorched and sweaty. "We got a lot of young players, but they're all skilled. Hopefully, everything goes our way.

"You know, Cristian was a great player and we'll miss him. But we can't worry about losing him or a coach. We have to work with what we got and make the most of it."

James Burns is managing editor/sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.