Carmine Isacco

Carmine Isacco (born September 20, 1970) is a Canadian soccer coach and retired player. He is currently the head coach of Vaughan Azzuri of the League1 Ontario.

Playing career

In 1989, Isacco entered the University of Maryland, College Park where he was a Soccer America Magazine freshman All-American goalkeeper. Over his four seasons with the Terrapins, he was named to the All-ACC first team three times and was the Terrapins team captain as a senior in 1992. He then spent time with the Canadian Olympic Team and competed at the 1993 World University Games. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Maryland

Isaaco turned professional in 1993 with the Toronto Italia in the National Soccer League. In his first season with the club, he was Goalkeeper of the Year, and was also named a Canadian all-star three times. In 1996, he moved to the Milwaukee Rampage of the USISL.^[1] He was selected to the All USISL Select First Team.^[2] In the fall of 1996, he signed with the Toronto Shooting Stars of the National Professional Soccer League.^[3] He returned to the Rampage for the 1997 USISL A-League season as the Rampage won the league title. He would continue to play the summer outdoor season with the Rampage until released by the team on July 13, 1999.^[4] On October 16, 1997, he signed a two year contract with the Milwaukee Wave of the NPSL.^[5] However, he spent most of the season as backup to Victor Nogueira.^[6][7][8] After having been released by the Rampage half way through the 1999 outdoor season, Isaaco signed with the Rochester Rhinos in August. He then moved to the Edmonton Drillers for the 1999-2000 NPSL season.^[9] On June 20, 2000, the Toronto Lynx signed Isacco.^[10] He also served as an assistant coach with the Lynx. In the fall of 2000, he signed with the Buffalo Blizzard where he again served as a backup, this time to Bryan Finnerty.^[11] The Blizzard folded at the end of the season and in August 2001, the Kansas City Comets selected Isacco in the dispersal draft, but he chose not to sign with the team. In 2002, he signed with Toronto Supra of the Canadian Professional Soccer League, where he primarily served as a backup goalkeeper for the club, and finishing off the season as the team's head coach.^[12]

Managerial career

After retiring from soccer Isacco became the head coach of the Toronto Supra in 2002. In 2005 he was appointed the head coach of Vaughan Shooters where he led the Shooters to playoffs, eventually reaching the finals, but losing out to the Oakville Blue Devils 2-1. In June 2005, he was also hired to coach the University of Toronto men's soccer team, the Varsity Blues. Isacco resigned as head coach of the Vaughn Shooters following the 2006 season in order to concentrate his duties with the University of Toronto. With the Varsity Blues, he led the team to OUA silver medals in both 2005 and 2006, also capturing a CIS silver in 2005. On January 10, 2007 Isacco resigned as the men’s soccer head coach and accepted a position as an assistant goalkeeping coach with Toronto FC, serving under head coach Mo Johnston.^[13]

Before the start of the 2008 TFC season, with Johnston moving upstairs to fill the role of Director of Football and Isacco's contract not being renewed, he was appointed the head coach of York University on March 26, 2007.^[14] At the same time, he was also appointed the new head coach of the Italia Shooters for the CSL 2008 season. The season concluded with the Shooters winning their second International Division title.^[15] He led Italia to the playoffs, with a victory over the Brampton Lions in the quarterfinals,^[16] but losing to eventual champions Serbian White Eagles in the semi-finals.^[17] Isacco resigned from his position as head coach of Italia in order to focus with his duties with York University.

In 2010, Isacco returned to his original managerial job with Portugal FC of the Canadian Soccer League, helping Portugal finish fifth in the overall standings with the second best offensive record. He led Portugal to a 3-2 victory on goals against Milltown F.C. in the quarterfinals.^[18] In the semi-finals the club faced Brantford Galaxy, but were eliminated by a score of 5-3.^[19] The following season Portugal FC merged with its feeder club the Toronto Eagles and become SC Toronto. Isacco would resume his coaching duties for the 2011 season. Throughout the season be achieved the organization's second regular season championship since the 2004 season, and finished with the league's best offensive record, and third best defensive record. In the postseason the club faced York Region Shooters, where in the first round Toronto lost to a score of 1-0.^[20] In the second round Toronto played an exciting match and concluded with a 4-3 victory. The quarterfinal series was tied 4-4 and the match went into a penalty shootout, where York Region would end up victorious in a 4-2 win on penalties.^[21] In 2012, he was promoted to the position of technical director for Toronto.

On may 29, 2014 he was appointed the head coach for Vaughan Azzuri of the League1 Ontario.^[22]

References

External links

• York University Coaching Staff