The Bochettes: From Temple University women鈥檚 soccer coaching to capturing moments
PHILADELPHIA —聽Becoming new Washington Township residents during a pandemic was not easy for Nick and Megan Bochette. Their time spent coaching Temple University women鈥檚 soccer, taking photos, and bonding with their two daughters helped them overcome any obstacles that came their way.
Relocating to the Garden State from Saratoga, New York 鈥� just before the pandemic began 鈥� was far from simple for Nick and Megan Bochette. Yet, this move meant new opportunities for them and their two daughters, Scarlett (7) and Tessa (5).
Nick and Megan left behind more traditional jobs for ones they feel strongly passionate about 鈥� head coach of the Temple University women鈥檚 soccer team and a professional photographer, respectively. 鈥淒oing what makes you happy in life is so important,鈥� Megan said. 鈥淣ick and I always encourage our kids to do the same.鈥�
The Bochettes refused to let the coronavirus prevent them from bonding as a family. 鈥淲hen it鈥檚 2035 and Scarlett and Tessa are grown and out of the house, we will wish we had more 鈥榪uarantine time鈥� to spend with them,鈥� Nick said. 鈥淲e try to keep that perspective and enjoy every minute we have with our family.鈥�
Becoming an owl
Just as Nick stays positive at home, he does the same on the soccer field with fellow coaches and student-athletes at Temple 鈥� who in early January 2020 named him its head women鈥檚 soccer coach. Nick was coming off a similar role for the University of Albany, where his last of four seasons as head coach ended in a 2019 America East regular season title.
Across seven overall seasons coaching in the New York state capital, Nick helped the university grow into one of its conference鈥檚 premier programs. He was eager to continue this momentum as a Temple Owl, however, the pandemic had other plans 鈥� canceling his first season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Not having valuable in-person time to set up his program was a huge undertaking for Nick. The first-year head coach made the most of the 鈥渃ards鈥� he was dealt. 鈥淭he most important thing was that we were healthy and safe,鈥� Nick said. 鈥淧layer development was not as easy nor the same as it would be in person. Yet, I think progress is possible in any setting and that’s what we talked a lot about 鈥� finding ways to grow despite the difficult situation.鈥�
While the coaching staff had several international recruiting trips called off, Nick and his staff shifted their focus to building relationships with not just the current roster, but as well as with prospective student-athletes in the area. Important hours were also spent in the virtual classroom, where student-athletes focused on growing individually and improving skills, such as ball-striking or receiving a ball while moving at full speed. 鈥淚 was very impressed with this group of young ladies 鈥� how eager and hungry they were to learn new information,鈥� Nick said.
Nick had to wait 13 months before he made his Temple and American Athletic Conference coaching debuts this past February. The team went on to finish 4-5-1 in their 10-game condensed schedule that included eight conference matchups. Nick鈥檚 first win was a dominant 3-0 shutout, away against Villanova. It was the first Owls women鈥檚 soccer victory opposite the Wildcats since their first meeting nearly 30 years prior.
Capturing memories
As Nick coaches his players to shoot for the soccer net, his wife shoots photos as owner and operator of Megan Bochette Photography.
Megan always had an interest in photography and the creative arts, but it became a passion after Scarlett and Tessa were born. 鈥淚 wanted to capture every memory,鈥� Megan said. 鈥淔amily is everything to me, which is why I put all my energy into photographing my clients鈥� families in a beautiful and meaningful way.鈥�
Before Scarlett was born, Megan worked as a school counselor for several years. She has always enjoyed working with families and children 鈥� and that can continue thanks to her new photography business.
鈥淚 am lucky to have a wonderful husband, two beautiful daughters and a sweet dog, Pippa 鈥� a 1-year-old terrier lab mix who we adopted last August,鈥� Megan said. 鈥淎ll four are often the subjects of my photographs.鈥�
Living in Township
Once Nick accepted his job with Temple, the Bochettes began their 鈥渉ouse hunt鈥� 鈥� looking everywhere from King of Prussia to Moorestown and Cherry Hill. 鈥淲hen we started looking in Washington Township, we fell in love,鈥� Nick said. 鈥淲e love how convenient the community is to everything without too much congestion.鈥�
The Bochettes say they have found their Colts Neck neighbors to be friendly, welcoming, and helpful. 鈥淢oving during a pandemic wasn鈥檛 easy, but our neighbors made us feel right at home,鈥� Megan said. 鈥淣ow that things are opening up, we look forward to getting involved and knowing the community more.鈥�
Cycling and golf are just a couple of Nick鈥檚 hobbies, while Megan enjoys reading, arts and crafts, and cooking. Their oldest daughter, Scarlett, stays active with Girl Scouts and cheerleading, while Tessa takes part in gymnastics and soccer 鈥� following her father鈥檚 footsteps.
Traveling has always been part of the Bochette family鈥檚 M.O. Ever since Nick and Megan got married in October 2010, traveling has been among their favorite memories together. Places they have visited include Florence, Rome, Tuscany, and Venice. In the U.S., they often visit family and friends at Cocoa Beach and Venice in Florida, as well as the Outer Banks, Charlotte, and Wilmington in North Carolina. Before Nick鈥檚 days as a college coach 鈥� and prior as an assistant vice president for a health insurance consulting company 鈥� he played professional soccer in Wilmington as the goalkeeper for the Hammerheads FC from 2006-08.
The Bochettes on Magic Kingdom鈥檚 Main Street, U.S.A.
鈥淲e look to broaden our travel, both domestically and internationally, as our daughters get older,鈥� Megan said. 鈥淭he girls have big dreams of visiting Paris and Hawaii. We missed our annual trip to Disney last year and look forward to going back soon!鈥�
The Bochette family鈥檚 motto, 鈥渢ogether is our favorite place to be,鈥� took on a special meaning during the past 16-plus months of the COVID-19 pandemic. They wouldn鈥檛 change their extra time spent with each other for the world.
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