View source for Jon Busch

{{Short description|American soccer player}}
{{other people|John Bush}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                 = Jon Busch
| image                = Jon Busch 2 (cropped).jpg
| caption              = Busch with the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] in 2013
| fullname             = Jon Busch
| birth_date           = {{birth date and age|1976|8|18}}
| birth_place          = [[New York City]], United States
| height               = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190517222537/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/players/player/195129/ FIFA.com]</ref>
| position             = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| collegeyears1        = 1994–1996
| college1             = [[Charlotte 49ers men's soccer|Charlotte 49ers]]
| years1               = 1997
| clubs1               = [[Boston Bulldogs (soccer)|Worcester Wildfire]]
| caps1                = 14
| goals1               = 0
| years2               = 1997
| clubs2               = [[Carolina Dynamo]]
| caps2                = 2 
| goals2               = 0
| years3               = 1998–2000
| clubs3               = [[Virginia Beach Mariners|Hampton Roads Mariners]]
| caps3                = 64 
| goals3               = 0
| years4               = 2001
| clubs4               = [[Hershey Wildcats]]
| caps4                = 25
| goals4               = 0
| years5               = 2002–2006
| clubs5               = [[Columbus Crew]]
| caps5                = 84
| goals5               = 0
| years6               = 2007–2009
| clubs6               = [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]]
| caps6                = 63
| goals6               = 0
| years7               = 2010–2014
| clubs7               = [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| caps7                = 150
| goals7               = 0
| years8               = 2015
| clubs8               = [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]]
| caps8                = 12
| goals8               = 0
| years9               = 2016–2017
| clubs9               = [[Indy Eleven]]
| caps9                = 59
| goals9               = 0
| totalcaps = 473
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1       = 1993
| nationalteam1        = [[United States men's national under-17 soccer team|United States U17]]
| nationalcaps1        = 4
| nationalgoals1       = 0
| nationalyears2       = 2005
| nationalteam2        = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps2        = 1
| nationalgoals2       = 0
| manageryears1        = 2022
| managerclubs1        = [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] (goalkeeping)
| manageryears2        = 2023–
| managerclubs2        = [[Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC|Pittsburgh Riverhounds]] (goalkeeping)
| medaltemplates       =
}}

'''Jon Busch''' (born August 18, 1976) is an American professional [[association football|soccer]] coach and former player, who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicago-fire.com/playerregistry/jon-busch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209034347/http://www.chicago-fire.com/playerregistry/jon-busch |archive-date=December 9, 2014 |title=Jon Busch {{!}} Chicago Fire}}</ref> Busch is currently the goalkeeping coach for [[USL Championship]] club [[Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC]].

He is best remembered for his captivating saves, despite his shorter stature for an elite goalkeeper, and spent most of his 21-year professional playing years in [[Major League Soccer]], appearing for the [[Columbus Crew]], [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]] and [[San Jose Earthquakes]]. Busch also represented the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] at both youth and senior level.

Arguably his best season was in 2008 when he was named [[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year]]. As of the end of the 2015 season, Busch ranks fourth in MLS history in number of shutouts.

==Youth and college==
Busch played at [[Guilderland High School]] in [[Guilderland, New York]], near [[Albany, New York|Albany]], where he was named a high school All-American. He was ranked within the top 25 best players in the nation as a senior.

In college, Busch was a NSCAA First Team All-American in 1996, when he help lead [[University of North Carolina at Charlotte|UNC Charlotte]] to their first ever appearance in the [[NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament|College Cup]] and a school-record 19 wins. He recorded a career-high 12 shutouts that season, including two in the NCAA Tournament and a career-low 0.89 goals against average (GAA) en route to being named [[Conference USA]] Defensive Player of the Year.  Overall, he was a First Team All-Conference selection three times and was named to Soccer America's First Team Freshman All-America team in 1994. In total, Busch spent 3 seasons with UNC Charlotte.

== Club career ==

=== A-League Years (1997–2001) ===
Busch was undrafted out of college by [[Major League Soccer]]. Instead, he spent a number of years in the [[United Soccer Leagues]]. He was drafted in 1997 by [[Nashville Metros]] with the 2nd overall pick in the [[USL First Division|A-League]] draft, but opted to split his first year with [[Boston Bulldogs (soccer)|Worcester Wildfire]] and [[Carolina Dynamo]]. Busch then moved on to [[Hampton Roads Mariners]], where he spent 3 seasons. He was named the team MVP in his second season. His breakout season came in 2001 with the [[Hershey Wildcats]].  He won 14 games and posted 13 shutouts while leading the team to the [[USL First Division|A-League]] National Championship match.  Busch was named the A-League Goalkeeper of the Year and was selected the Division II circuit's first-team All-League keeper.

=== Columbus Crew (2002–2006) ===
[[Major League Soccer]] took note of his USL play and it resulted in Busch being drafted by [[Columbus Crew]] with the 23rd overall pick of the [[2002 MLS SuperDraft]].  Busch did not become a starter for the Crew immediately, sharing the duties in his first MLS season with incumbent [[Tom Presthus]].  He became a starter by [[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]], but did not do very well as Columbus floundered in the standings.  In contrast, both the Crew and Busch had terrific [[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]] regular seasons, as the team, led by Busch's goaltending, embarked on a league-record 18-game undefeated streak.  Busch was a finalist for the 2004 [[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award]] for his performance, and his impact on the team's season was cited as the third-highest impact of any MLS player on any MLS team in the history of the league by MLSnet writer Jeff Bradley.<ref>Bradley, Jeff. [http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20060905&content_id=71742&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp "First XI: Impact players"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712091627/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20060905&content_id=71742&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp |date=July 12, 2009 }}, From ''MLSnet.com''. September 5, 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2006.</ref>  In 2005, he was sidelined by a knee injury for most of the season, leading the Crew to acquire [[Jonny Walker (soccer)|Jonny Walker]].  The Crew's goalkeeping injury woes intensified in 2006, as Busch was one of several injured keepers on the team roster, managing only eight games. He was waived prior to the 2007 season.

=== Chicago Fire (2007–2009) ===
Busch found himself the only player picked in the 2007 MLS Waiver Draft, selected by [[Toronto FC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/busch-joins-toronto-through-waiver-draft|title=Busch joins Toronto through waiver draft|work=MLSsoccer.com}}</ref> On March 21 of the same year, he was waived by Toronto as the team found itself over the limit for senior international roster spots. He was subsequently traded to [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]] in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2009 [[MLS Supplemental Draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3448628|title=Fire Signs Veteran Goalkeeper Jon Busch|date=April 7, 2007}}</ref> Busch was to serve primarily as a backup keeper in 2007 and only made it into three matches all season.

However, with the departure of starter [[Matt Pickens]] to [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] of England's second-tier [[Football League Championship]], Busch ultimately inherited the starter's role with the Fire to start the 2008 season. He was named Fire MVP for the 2008 season after being the only Fire player to start and play 90 minutes in every MLS match during the regular season (2700 minutes). Busch posted the best saves percentage in the league (78.2) after making 122 saves on 156 shots faced.  Busch tied for most shutouts in the league (10), while also tying a Fire single season shutout record shared with [[Matt Pickens]] for his 10 shutouts in 2007. For his efforts, Busch was named the [[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year]]. In March 2010, Busch was waived by the Chicago Fire.<ref>[https://archive.today/20110812003618/http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20100322&content_id=8873428&vkey=news_chf&fext=.jsp&team=t100 "Fire waive goalkeeper Jon Busch"] From ''chicago.fire.mlsnet.com''. March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2010.</ref>

=== San Jose Earthquakes (2010–2014) ===
[[Image:Jon Busch.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Goal kick versus [[LA Galaxy]] in 2013]]
Shortly after being waived, Busch was signed by [[San Jose Earthquakes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sjearthquakes.com/post/2010/03/31/quakes-sign-goalkeeper-jon-busch|title=Quakes Sign Goalkeeper Jon Busch|work=San Jose Earthquakes}}</ref> In 2014, Busch recorded a league best and franchise record 138 saves in a season, besting Joe Cannon's mark set in 2000.<ref name="mlssoccer.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/10/26/san-jose-earthquakes-looking-forward-2015-after-dismal-season-comes-end-loss|title=News|work=MLSsoccer.com}}</ref>

=== Chicago Fire (2015) ===
Busch returned to Chicago for his second stint with the club in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicago-fire.com/http%3A/%252Fchicago-fire.com/news/2015-01/chicago-fire-announce-return-of-jon-busch|title=Fire Announce Return of Goalkeeper Jon Busch|work=Chicago Fire}}</ref> At the end of the season his contract option was declined.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chicago Fire Soccer Club Exercises Options on Four Players|url=http://www.chicago-fire.com/post/2015/11/30/chicago-fire-soccer-club-exercises-options-four-players|publisher=chicago-fire.com |date=November 30, 2015}}</ref>

=== Indy Eleven (2016–2017) ===
In January 2016, Busch signed as a free agent with the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|NASL]] club [[Indy Eleven]]. He will also serve as the club's Director of Goalkeeping, with duties to include first team coaching and scouting, serving as a guest coach with the Indy Eleven NPSL squad and assisting with the Indy Eleven Summer Soccer Clinic series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indyeleven.com/news/2016/01/22/busch-brings-his-vast-experience-to-eleven|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128021537/http://www.indyeleven.com/news/2016/01/22/busch-brings-his-vast-experience-to-eleven|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 28, 2016|title=Busch brings his vast experience to Eleven|publisher=indyeleven.com|date=January 22, 2016}}</ref>

===Retirement===
In May 2018, Busch made one last transfer move back to his first MLS club, [[Columbus Crew SC]]. He and the club had agreed a one-day contract so he could officially retire as a player of Crew SC, the club which he called home in his retirement letter.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/10/longtime-mls-goalkeeper-jon-busch-signs-one-day-deal-retire-crew-sc| title = Longtime MLS goalkeeper Jon Busch signs one-day deal to retire with Crew SC {{!}} MLSSoccer.com}}</ref>

== International career ==
Busch earned his first and only cap for the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] on March 9, 2005. He shut out [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]] in a friendly, but despite the performance was not called back into the squad.

He has also represented the U.S. at the U-17 and U-20 levels, as well as having played in the [[1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship]] in [[Japan]].

==Coaching==
Busch obtained his "B" coaching license in January 2003. While playing for the Columbus Crew, he also trained goalkeepers in Columbus' youth soccer league, the Ohio Football Club. He became the academy goalkeeping coach at [[Indy Eleven]] in 2017, while also working with United States youth squads.<ref name = Hibs>{{cite web |url=https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/jon-busch-appointed-new-head-of-goalkeeping |title=Jon Busch Appointed New Head of Goalkeeping |website=www.hibernianfc.co.uk |date=2 February 2022 |accessdate=2 February 2022}}</ref> Busch was appointed to a coaching position at Scottish club [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] in February 2022.<ref name = Hibs/>

In January 2023, Busch was appointed goalkeeping coach for the [[Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC|Pittsburgh Riverhounds]] of the [[USL Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jon Busch named new goalkeeper coach |url=https://www.riverhounds.com/news/2023/01/03/jon-busch-goalkeeper-coach/ |website=Riverhounds.com |access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>

==Personal==
Busch is the son of Madeline and Robert Busch. Robert Busch is a [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] pastor. Jon Busch married Nicole Blair on December 11, 2004.

==Honors==

===Club===
'''Columbus Crew'''
* [[U.S. Open Cup]]: [[2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2002]]
* [[MLS Supporters' Shield]]: 2004
'''San Jose Earthquakes'''
*[[MLS Supporters' Shield]]: 2012
*Club record saves in a season: 138 (2014)<ref name="mlssoccer.com"/>

===United States===
*[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]: runner-up [[2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2009]]

===Individual===
*[[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award|MLS Goalkeeper of the Year]]: 2008
*[[MLS Best XI]]: 2008

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{FIFA player|195129}}
*{{MLS player|jon-busch}}

{{Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC squad}}
{{MLS Goalkeeper of the Year}}
{{2008 MLS Best XI}}
{{United States squad 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Conference USA Men's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Busch, Jon}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American men's soccer players]]
[[Category:United States men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Worcester Wildfire players]]
[[Category:North Carolina Fusion U23 players]]
[[Category:Charlotte 49ers men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Virginia Beach Mariners players]]
[[Category:Hershey Wildcats players]]
[[Category:Columbus Crew players]]
[[Category:Chicago Fire FC players]]
[[Category:San Jose Earthquakes players]]
[[Category:Indy Eleven players]]
[[Category:A-League (1995–2004) players]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players]]
[[Category:People from Guilderland, New York]]
[[Category:United States men's youth international soccer players]]
[[Category:Columbus Crew draft picks]]
[[Category:People from Powell, Ohio]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Delaware County, Ohio]]
[[Category:All-American college men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Hibernian F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Association football goalkeeping coaches]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC players]]
[[Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Scotland]]
[[Category:American expatriate soccer coaches]]