Men’s soccer at Rochester has reached unprecedented heights under the tutelage of head coach Chris Apple. In his seven years at the University, Apple’s teams have won four ECAC Northeast Regional Championships, two UAA Championships, and made three NCAA appearances. He has coached the Yellowjackets to a cumulative 95-24-16 record while walking the sidelines.

Overall, his career record is 114-52-19. His coaching resume includes one season as the interim head coach at the University of Notre Dame and two seasons as the head coach at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Rochester’s soccer legacy includes seven UAA Championships. Apple has been a part of five titles – three as a player (1988-1990) and two as a coach (2005, 2007).

The UAA titles in 2005 and 2007 resulted in bids to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Rochester enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in 2005, posting a 16-1-0 record (7-0-0 in the UAA) with the sole loss coming in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. The 16 wins set a single-season record for victories. Rochester was ranked number one regionally for much of the season and as high as #3 nationally.

In 2006, Rochester returned to the NCAA tournament and defeated Hamilton College in the first round, before falling on the road to Stevens Institute. Last year, the Yellowjackets finished 15-3-2 and reached the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. It is the farthest Rochester has ever advanced in NCAA play. The Yellowjackets were 6-0-1 in UAA play. In the NCAAs, Rochester defeated Keuka and Hobart before losing to fourth-ranked Messiah College on the road in the Sweet 16.

On three occasions (2001, 2005, 2007), Apple and his assistant coaches were named the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) named Apple as its Northeast Region Coach of the Year in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Apple came to the University in 2001 and promptly won four consecutive championships in the Eastern College Athletic Conference. Rochester was 13-4-2 in 2001, 14-4-2 in 2002, 14-4-3 in 2003, and 14-2-4 in 2004.

The 2004 team became the highest ranked team in men’s soccer history to that point when it reached #3 in a mid-season NSCAA poll. The Yellowjackets finished #11 in the final poll and more impressively, earned a fourth consecutive NSCAA Team Academic Award.

Before taking over at his alma mater, Apple coached for five years at Notre Dame, four as an assistant under Mike Berticelli and one as the interim head coach when Berticelli passed away suddenly. In his first season on the Fighting Irish staff, Apple helped guide the Irish to a 14-7-2 record, a first-ever NCAA tournament first round victory, and a final ranking of 17th in Division I by Soccer America. During Apple’s four years as an assistant, Notre Dame was 41-31-10 and made four trips to the Big East tournament. The Irish were 7-8-2 in his season as the interim head coach (2000).

Prior to his stint in South Bend, Apple guided NC Wesleyan College for two years. His first experience in college coaching was in 1993 as a volunteer assistant at Harvard University.

Apple is a 1992 cum laude graduate of the University of Rochester with a baccalaureate degree with a dual concentration in German and history. On the soccer field, he helped Rochester to four post-season appearances – one in the ECACs as a freshman (1988) and three in the NCAAs (1989-1991). Apple was named an All-American by the NSCAA in 1989 and 1991. He was selected as an Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America in 1990. He earned All-UAA honors in midfield for three seasons and was chosen as the UAA Player of the Year in 1990.

After graduating, he played professionally with Spvgg Weiden in Weiden, Germany in 1992-93 and with the Raleigh Flyers in Raleigh, N.C. in 1994. Apple holds an ‘A’ coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and an Advanced National Diploma from the NSCAA.

Apple is active in the Rochester community. He coaches within the Rochester Jr. Rhinos youth club and serves as the club’s Director of Coaching Education. In 2002, he led the Jr. Rhinos U-15 boys to the United States Youth Soccer Association National Championship.

He is married to Melissa Sturge-Apple (’92). Melissa earned her PhD from Notre Dame and is a research associate and assistant professor working at the Mount Hope Family Center, a branch of the University that focuses on research, as well as prevention and intervention programs for at-risk children and families. The Apples are proud parents of Kellen, 5, and Braedon, 3.

John Spuhler enters his second season as an assistant coach with the University of Rochester’s men’s soccer program. As an undergraduate, John was the goalkeeper for Oswego State where he captained the squad his junior and senior seasons. While at Oswego he was named to the SUNYAC All Conference team four times, was named defensive MVP at the University of Rochester’s Flower City Soccer Tournament in 2004, given the Fred Hollaway Award as academic player of the year in 2003 & 2004, and the SUNYAC Chancellor Award in 2005.

After graduating cum laude from Oswego, he enrolled at Columbia University where he received a master’s degree in health education in 2006.

“The addition of Coach Spuhler to our staff is a huge step forward for the soccer program at Rochester,” says head coach Chris Apple. “John offers our players and in particular our goalkeepers the expertise and commitment to excellence that they expect in a coach.”

“In addition to the goalkeeping knowledge Coach Spuhler brings to the table, John’s expertise in nutrition, strength and conditioning has been paramount to our players’ development this past off-season."

Coach Spuhler has also been recruiting for the Yellowjackets. “John has a keen eye for talent and the strength and depth of this year’s freshman class is in large part due to his efforts on the road and in the office.”

Rory Charcholla enters his 3rd fall with the Rochester men’s soccer team, and his 1st season as the program’s full time assistant coach. He joined the staff in the fall of 2007 as a volunteer assistant, primarily working with the team during training sessions and matches. He now is involved in all aspects of the program including the recruiting process, assisting in team training, organizing the Rochester Soccer Coaching seminar and the UR Elite Camp. He also oversees conditioning, scouting opponents and team travel arrangements.

As an undergraduate, Charcholla was a member of the 2002 NCAA Division III National Championship Team while at Messiah College. He later transferred to SUNY Brockport where he led the team in assists and was named to the SUNYAC ALL Conference team in 2005. He helped lead SUNY Brockport to their first NCAA tournament appearance since the 1970’s. Charcholla graduated from SUNY Brockport with a Bachelors Degree of Science in Psychology. Charcholla currently holds a National Diploma from the NSCAA and coaches youth with the Empire United Soccer Academy.

Coach Apple commented on elevating Charcholla to the first assistant position: “I am so pleased to have Rory on staff again this season. His commitment to the program for the past two years has been incredible and he has really paid his dues as a volunteer. Now that he has been promoted to the first assistant position, I believe his impact on the program will be stronger than ever. The energy and passion he brings to the training field is contagious, he relates well to players, has a sharp eye for talent and he is always looking for inventive ways to make Rochester Soccer better.”