Shane Bufano is the Founder, President, and Director of Coaching of Queen City FC. Since founding the club in 2011 with just three teams, Bufano has helped develop Queen City into one of the region’s largest youth soccer organizations, serving more than 500 players from U8 through U19 across more than 30 boys’ and girls’ teams in Vermont and Northern New York.

Bufano is also the Head Boys Varsity Soccer Coach at Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) and serves as President of the Vermont Soccer Coaches Association. Throughout his career, he has been involved in nearly every level of Vermont soccer as a player, youth coach, high school coach, college coach, club administrator, league administrator, and statewide soccer leader.

Coaching Career

Bufano has established himself as one of Vermont’s most successful high school boys’ soccer coaches. After four seasons as Head Coach at Stowe High School, he returned to his alma mater, Champlain Valley Union High School, as Head Coach in 2024.

In his first season at CVU, Bufano guided the Redhawks to a 15-2 record, the Metro Division Championship, and the 2024 Vermont Division I State Championship — the 21st boys’ soccer state championship in school history.

The title came just one year after Bufano led Stowe to a 16-1-1 record and the 2023 Vermont Division III State Championship. The accomplishment made Bufano the first Vermont boys’ soccer coach to win consecutive state championships with two different schools.

CVU returned to the Division I State Championship game in 2025, giving Bufano three championship-game appearances in four seasons and back-to-back appearances in the Division I Final.

His high school coaching honors include multiple Capital League Coach of the Year selections, back-to-back Vermont Soccer Coaches Association Small School Coach of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023, Vermont State Coach of the Year recognition, and selection as Head Coach of the Vermont Twin State Lions Cup team in both 2023 and 2024.

Queen City FC & Vermont Soccer

Bufano founded Queen City FC with a vision of providing high-quality, competitive soccer opportunities while keeping the game accessible to Vermont families.

Under his leadership, Queen City FC has grown from three teams into a year-round organization featuring more than 30 teams and 500-plus players. The club now provides premier teams, developmental programming, training opportunities, tournaments, leagues, and events for players throughout Vermont and Northern New York.

Bufano has coached boys’ and girls’ teams throughout the club from U10 through U19 and has guided numerous Queen City teams to tournament championships and finals.

His influence extends beyond Queen City FC. Bufano has played a significant role in the development and administration of soccer throughout Vermont, including helping lead the creation and operation of the Vermont Premier League and Vermont Alliance League. His work has included league organization, scheduling, centralized competition sites, referee coverage, and collaboration among clubs throughout the state.

For his contributions to youth soccer, Bufano was named the 2016 Vermont Soccer Association Administrator of the Year and the 2013 Vermont Soccer Association Girls Coach of the Year.

College Coaching Career

Prior to his high school head coaching career, Bufano spent four seasons as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Johnson State College/Northern Vermont University-Johnson.

After taking over the program in 2017, Bufano helped engineer one of the largest turnarounds in NCAA Division III that season. In 2018, Johnson won a program NCAA-era record 10 games, set single-season records for goals, assists, and points, and qualified for the North Atlantic Conference postseason for the first time since 2010.

The Badgers earned the No. 4 seed in the North Atlantic Conference playoffs and hosted a conference postseason game for the first time since 2007. Numerous players earned All-Conference and weekly conference honors during Bufano’s tenure.

Bufano finished his collegiate head coaching career with a 24-27-1 record.

Prior to becoming a college head coach, Bufano served for two seasons as an Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at Saint Michael’s College. He also spent five seasons as an assistant boys’ soccer coach at South Burlington High School, helping the program reach three Vermont Division I State Championship games and win state championships in 2011 and 2014.

Playing Career

Bufano played collegiately at Green Mountain College, where he was a two-time All-Conference forward.

As a freshman in 2005, he scored 16 goals and finished as runner-up for Association of Division III Independents Rookie of the Year. He led Green Mountain in scoring and points during each of his first two seasons.

Over three seasons, Bufano recorded 24 goals and eight assists before a knee injury cut short his final season. He finished his career among Green Mountain College’s NCAA-era leaders in numerous offensive categories, including career goals, career points, and single-season goals.

Bufano was also a captain of the Green Mountain College varsity tennis team and earned the school’s Scholar Athlete Award and Coaches Award in 2007.

Prior to college, Bufano played at Champlain Valley Union High School, where he was a member of the program’s 2002 and 2003 Vermont Division I State Championship teams. He also played for Nordic Soccer Club and participated in Vermont ODP for three seasons.

Coaching Education

• United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma
• United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching Diploma
• United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Diploma
• United Soccer Coaches Futsal Level I Diploma
• U.S. Soccer Federation “D” License
• Coerver Coaching Youth Diploma I & II

Career Highlights

• 2024 Vermont Division I State Champion — Champlain Valley Union
• 2023 Vermont Division III State Champion — Stowe
• 2025 Vermont Division I State Finalist — Champlain Valley Union
• First Vermont boys’ coach to win consecutive state championships with two different schools
• 2022 & 2023 VSCA Small School Coach of the Year
• Vermont Twin State Lions Cup Head Coach — 2023 & 2024
• 2016 Vermont Soccer Association Administrator of the Year
• 2013 Vermont Soccer Association Girls Coach of the Year
• Founder of Queen City FC — 2011

Head Coaching Record

College

High School