Hall of Fame
John Boucher ’66 was a three-sport athlete at Husson, earning seven letters from 1963-1966.
Regarded as one of the best defenders in Husson University men's soccer program history, Boucher helped the Braves post a 21-13-1 (.614) win-loss mark in the program’s first four-years as a varsity sport at Husson. He contributed to two Northeast Collegiate Conference Championships in 1963 and 1964.
A member of the first varsity team in 1962, Boucher finished his career on the pitch with one goal for two points in 35 games played as a fullback for coaches Chet Dana, Averill Black and Phil Surgen from 1962-1965.
As a sophomore, Boucher helped the Braves capture the program’s first conference championship and their first winning season in school history in just their second season as a varsity sport. Husson posted a then school record 6-1 overall record with the program’s first-ever unblemished record in conference play with a 4-0 mark.
The senior captain helped the Braves set a then school record with nine victories against just two setbacks in his junior season, while earning the program’s second consecutive NCC championship and advancing to the program’s first-ever National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 32 Championship Tournament. The third seeded Braves played the defending NAIA national champions and the second seeded Spartans of Vermont State University Castleton (formerly Castleton State Teachers College) in a semifinal matchup at Dartmouth College. The Braves fell to the Spartans, 1-0, in a matchup that featured seven overtime periods. The game ended after Castleton scored on a penalty kick due to a hand ball penalty at the Braves' goal line.
In his two years of play on the links for coaches Phil Kilmister and Dave Bertolotti, Boucher helped lead the Braves to a 9-4 record and the first two conference championships in Husson men’s golf program history in 1964 and 1965.
On the diamond, Boucher played in five games for hall of fame member Del Merrill '54, '85H during the 1963 Husson baseball season. Husson won seven games in his lone year as member of the program.
A soccer coach for more than 20 years, Boucher began his coaching career as the coach of a premier under-12 team in the Granite State Girls Soccer League. He became president of that league and during his tenure, the league grew to 1,800 players (ranging in ages from 8-19) with more than 100 teams. He then went on to coach girls soccer at Souhegan High School located in Amherst, N.H. Under his direction, Souhegan High School girls soccer program won eight state championships in a row. The school holds a national record for consecutive state championships with 10 in a row (two coming prior to coach Boucher's arrival). Boucher retired from coaching with a career record of 175-15-5. His record in postseason play was 38-2, with both losses occurring in the New Hampshire Division I finals.
Boucher served as the head coach in 1997 and 2000 for the New Hampshire vs. Vermont Lions Cup game. In 1999, he was voted New Hampshire Coach of the Year for Class I and United Soccer Coaches (formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Regional Coach of the Year for the northeast. The following year he was honored by the United Soccer Coaches as the division I national coach of the year.
Boucher graduated from Husson in 1966 with a bachelor of science in business administration. After a successful career with Exxon, he went into business for himself. He owned and operated a retail motor fuel and convenience store located in southern New Hampshire called Stalee and JPB Fuels.
However, Boucher’s biggest contribution to Husson University came in 2001 when he generously donated funds to help Husson build a separate facility for its men’s and women’s soccer programs. The John P. Boucher Field, the home to Husson’s men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, is named in his honor.
He has been inducted into the Husson Alumni Hall of Fame and is very involved with Husson as a member of the Board of Trustees.
A native of Auburn, Maine, Boucher attended Edward Little High School.
