GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota Head Soccer Coach
Chris Logan announced two Assistant Coaches ahead of Saturday's exhibition with Jamestown, adding Danny Burstein as assistant coach and Jessica Nei as associate head coach to the Fighting Hawks program.
Burstein and Nei combine for over 20-years of coaching experience across the Division I, Division II, and NAIA levels. Nei, a St. Cloud, Minn., product, was a four-year letter winner at North Dakota State (2003-2007).
Coming off of an interim head coaching position at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Mont., Burstein returns to coaching women's soccer after taking over the Argonauts' men's program during the COVID-19 stricken season of 2020. With most of the team unable to reenter the country, he led UP to a 3-3-2 record in 2020.
He also served as an assistant at Providence during the 2018 campaign, helping the Argos to a Cascade Conference Tournament berth. Burstein was an assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams at Adams State in 2019, serving as the goalkeeper's coach for the women's team, improving the team's goals allowed by -18.
In addition to his position with UP, Burstein worked with Montana Rush as Head Coach for the U15 Girls and U19 Boys and coached for the Montana ODP program. He led his U19 Boys team to the 2018 State Cup title. Burstein owns an extensive high school and club coaching resume, spending four seasons at St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club and Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS).
He is a graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., where he was an undergraduate coach and student manager for the Judges. He holds both the Advanced National Diploma and the Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma from United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA) and a USSF D License.
Nei, a St. Cloud, Minn., product, has spent the last 11 seasons coaching at the Division I level and brings a total of 13 years to Grand Forks. She comes to UND after one season at Wyoming, where the Cowgirls only allowed 13 goals in nine matches and recorded one shutout. UW also recorded a season save percentage of .827 during the season, amassing 62 saves in net.
She arrived in Laramie after five seasons at Toledo, helping the Rockets to 21 shutouts over that span, a 2017 Mid-American Conference Championship, and an NCAA Tournament appearance. During that time, she mentored All-MAC defender Chiara Paradiso and All-Freshmen team goalkeeper Madison Perrin. Nei also spent three seasons at Arkansas State, helping the Red Wolves to their first winning season in program history.
Nei cut her teeth in her hometown at St. Cloud State, spending three seasons with the Huskies and aiding them to a pair of 10-win seasons and an overall record of 28-21-8. Nei also holds a USSF "C" license and NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.
UND, who opened practice on Friday, Aug. 6, is eight days into the preseason and will begin its regular season on Sunday, Aug. 22, versus Idaho in Grand Forks. North Dakota enters the contest with 10 freshmen and eight seniors, including fifth-year
Mara Yapello, who opted to use her "COVID Year" while finishing her nursing degree.
The Jimmies finished 13-8 last season and advanced to the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship match, but fell to Concordia (Neb.), 2-1. The Jimmies return their top scorer and First Team All-GPAC selection, Kamryn Fiscus, who totaled 30 points on 10 goals and assists last fall. Jamestown was picked to finish third in the GPAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
For more news on the Fighting Hawks soccer program, visit FightingHawks.com. Follow the program on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @UNDsoccer.
