Jon Szczuka- CEO/ Club Director
Jon Szczuka moved to Irvine in 1987 joining the Pateadores for the club's inaugural season. He attended Woodbridge high school receiving all league, all county, and all CIF honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Szczuka was selected to ODP State, Regional, and a national camp during his youth. He went on to play at UC Irvine.
Szczuka spent 4 years of club and two years of college under Bob O'Leary's guidance. Bob O'Leary was the Pateadores founding DOC creating a legacy that still has an influence on us today.
Szczuka has had a long time passion for coaching; spending high school summers as a live in coach/counselor at UC Irvine soccer camps. He started coaching club with the Irvine Strikers in 1991 serving as the assistant DOC/Boys Director from 1994-2006. Szczuka was instrumental in guiding the Strikers into one of the top Clubs in the country. Szczuka rejoined the Pats in 2006 and served as a Director of Coaching until 2009. He was then promoted to his current role of Senior Director of Coaching.
Szczuka has experienced success at nearly all levels of youth soccer. He was selected as the Woodbridge Varsity coach at the age of 21; winning League and CIF Titles in his first season. The following year he won his first CYSA State and USYSA Regional title. Szczuka is in rare company having been a part of National championships at the USYSA, US Club, Nike U14, and USDA Academy levels. Many of his players have gone on to play collegiately, professionally, and for the US National Teams.
Coaching and DOC Accolades
Club
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15 CYSA State Titles, 10 Regional Titles, 1 USYSA National Title, 1 US Club National Title, 1 USDA Academy National Title
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2002 Champions of the Man U Cup hosted by Nike. This team went on to finish 10th in the world overall after beating Manchester United and Deportivo at the World Games.
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Qualified for USDA Academy playoffs in 2009 and 2011
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13 players selected to U17 US Residency program since it's inception
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6 former players with Caps for the US Men's National Team
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Szczuka coached a girls squad to back to back regional bids winning a state and regional title in 1995.
High school
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CIF champs in 95, 99, and 2003-Boys
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Made CIF finals 4 times in 9 years winning league 6 times-Boys
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Coach of the year honors twice ('95, '99)
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2 league titles and CIF semi final appearances in 4 years-Girls
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Both boys and girls were ranked in the OC top 10 all 4 years and both were top 5 nationally at the same time in 2003