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

Champlain Valley Union High School has successors in place 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 on Friday afternoon.

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

Bryant replaces Ute Otley, who left for the Norwich women's basketball gig after guiding CVU to eight D-I titles, 10 finals appearances and a 268-17 record over 13 seasons. Bufano, a 2004 CVU graduate, takes over from Rob Cole, who stepped last month after a seven-year run that included 93 wins and state crowns in 2018, 2019 and 2023.

Bryant is the former associate head coach of the University of Vermont women's basketball team. Bufano coached the last four seasons at Stowe, where he led the boys squad 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 up his knee and missed his final year of high school soccer.

Instead of playing, Bufano spent that fall learning under then-coach Dan Shepardson as a student assistant. That mentorship blossomed 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’ve been waiting for this opportunity at CVU to open up."

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

Over the last four years at Stowe, Bufano produced a 46-11-3 record, capped by 2023's 16-1-1 mark and a 3-0 title-game triumph over rival Peoples.

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

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

'Missing basketball in my life': Bryant ready to return to coaching

After taking last year off from coaching, Bryant couldn't pass up the chance to return to the sport she loves.

"I really was missing basketball in my life. It seemed like a perfect opportunity," Bryant said. "I have big shoes to fill, but it's a wonderful community and I'm up for the challenge. The high school level fits perfectly with my life."

Of her six seasons at UVM, Bryant spent half of them as the associate head coach and all but one as the team's recruiting coordinator. She was on staff when the Catamounts captured the 2023 America East title the program's first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 2010. On the court, Bryant worked with the team's post players and earned credit for its 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 on the staffs at Manhattan and Marist before moving on to Vermont in 2017.

Bryant said she's "excited to give back" to the game while maintaining CVU's championship pedigree.

More:CVU girls basketball rallies for back-to-back D-I crowns, record-setting 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 and add my own twist to it and continue the success Ute had for many years," Bryant said. "I want to help student-athletes achieve their goals."

Bryant is engaged to Renee Breault, CVU's new athletic director. Bryant confirmed that Breault excused herself from the hiring process once Bryant submitted her application.

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Contact Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.